will you take me
as I am
wrapped in chainmail skin -
how -
how can I ever hope to begin to o-
- P E N
to you?
links-
split-ringed riveted
sword-thrust-resistant - malleable
they may seem
but each link was forged in coldest fire
forced
in place
struck and hammered again again and again.
Yes
I do see chains.
Each link whitesmith*- pearled
as cruel iron applied its cruellest pain -
they solder-rained -
wet-darkened
pewter tears that sluiced
but I will t r a n s f o r m you.
Each link I will piano* - kiss
transpose cold metal to silvering* scales
and tuneful-skilful-play you
and when vibrations quivering-cease
and when you lie sated-replete
awash with song
flushed with flame
I will magic for you a mermaid's tail
and when you are
ready...
No, more than
ready...
I will blow the hot breath
of my own desire
sweet-zephyred-streaming
and scales will aching-turn to white powder and w i n d - r u s h . . .
. . . ahhh
. . . ahhh
. . . ahhh -
- way.
*Unlike blacksmiths (who work mostly with hot metal), whitesmiths do the majority of their work on cold metal (although they might use a hearth to heat and help shape their raw materials).
*piano - musical term - softly
*silvering is the chemical process of coating glass with a reflective substance.
YOU ARE READING
Borealis Love
PoetryLove - what does that word mean, what does it comprise? Do we always recognise it when faced with it? Do we value it when we ought to do so? Do we squander it when it is too easily given? Do we ever understand until it has left us and we are left to...
