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.