lady of the lake

bliss full
kiss full
rainwater echoes across the lake

late

summer sun-shower

a kiss
a lick
sensuous surprise

light

green so clearly invisible

plump
succulent
droplets expose the thinness of life

brilliant

release into the lake

this is how I feel, sometimes

arms touched by the thinnest blade open along a threadlike line to bleed out over and over again

red ribbon flutters to the floor like a serpent unwinding
proof she was present
her skin gone – entrails eaten
left over buzzards fly about waiting to see if there will be more

more flesh rent open by seamless skin
exposed by her poltergeist as she whirls about
in a hot dance of malevolent flames

time spent on hold is time spent running away

the air has changed
dead leaves settle into
furniture
carpet
driveway
woods
a heavy damp harbor
of dying mosquitoes, ticks and centipedes.

muted colors
dried
withered
frail
prosper amongst greens/browns dulled by fog, rain and the greyness of almost winter
I refuse to sweep away death
I refuse to rake up decay

let it linger
just this november