Lord of Arcadia

Herbaceous, lush green as spring
Sun basked, ruddy, dew sheened
Tangled, bramble snagged
Vegetal musk and black soil
Here, the Lord of Arcadia
Gamboling, wet earth patterned - cloven and burled
Run, run, gasping, drinking clear air
Hide, hide, white stalks sunk in rich mud
Teasing, swaying -
Tantalizing - catch as catch can
Matted curls dampening, wading into warm water
Succulent mouth, rose hipped
Tongue like ripe fruit, sliced and dripping
Finds one reed in seven
Music issues from her throat
Shrill and sweet

Collision

Foolish I am, writing love notes
to place amongst dusty flowers
a makeshift memorial from a long time ago
a roadside shrine in my heart

but - something happened here, on this spot
this is where the collision happened
Unintentional, accidental, cataclysmic
this is where it occurred

and I was changed forever, deformed
my heart wrenched in twain, cleaved asunder
and I cannot go back to the way it was
the pieces don’t fit together the way they did

a jagged rib bone knitting crooked -
the thought of you catches in my chest
blood from a scar long healed, tearing
I drink to remember the taste of your lips

Embers

Your hand is a key
against the cage of my breast
The door open at your touch
I am alight with flaming birds
Free, they carry my petitions
like fire and smoke
drifting embers, wind swirled

I don't need to set lights for god to see
god already knows

Every whisper against your cheek
is a shower of sparks, soaring heavenward
New burning stars
For god to arrange in his diadem