and she was fair as any girl could
be
in asking for her share.
when the game was played again,
would she have anything left?
the wind wanted to find her,
and she hid under her sheets,
lips and nose buried in pillows
smelling strong of blood and sweets
and she cried,
"i'm not here,
and i won't be,
as long as you can't explain your care.
i will be gone,
and you can't follow,
as long as you can't explain your fear."
dreaming eyes as cold as snakes.
bearing down on her chest.
swearing in their crooked tongues, "you'll never breathe again."
and she was brave as any girl could
be
in telling them to leave.
when they visited again,
she'd be stronger, she swore.
the snakes wanted to find her,
and crawled into her room,
lips and skins shining silver
in the twilight gloom.
and she cried,
"i'm not here,
and i won't be,
as long as you can't explain your care.
i will be gone,
and you can't follow,
as long as you can't explain your fear."
she spoke to them in tongues they
couldn't dream
in thoughts of kissing cloth and velvet seams,
a golden thread was woven and drawn taught,
and its voice might redeem.
"go to sleep.
breathe deep and even,
and don't dream about me.
go to sleep.
breathe in sugared moisture,
and don't dream a word about me."
trembling hands upon her thighs,
choking kisses in her throat.
always disappointing in the words she never wrote.
and she was dull as any girl could
be,
if appearance couldn't tell.
when they spoke of her again,
would she lose her mind as well?