wisteria chokers 
worn as ornament 
restraints tying down 
an unruly nature 
marbleized ivory skin 
reflecting the cold moonlight 
wicked gleam 
not unlike the death beam shooting out of her eye 
a dewy sheen frozen to her face 
icy chiselled sculpture 
the fine details of her death mask 
calling to me... 
damn i am drawn to kiss her 
i rhythmically squeeze with my fingers 
i rock back and forth 
hold her neck, her marred graceful neck 
in my hands, god how i knead her 
drape her in mouldering leaves 
this graveblanket too small 
to cover us both 
so i dust myself off... 
smile at her unseeing eyes 
and cover her in dead fall 
twilight scurries as i unload my trunk 
put the laundry in the machines 
at the coin-op 
while i stare at the inside of my 
Time magazine
 
Sherry Gilles ©1998