I am twined with the viper
coiled below his breathing scales
where heat takes the place of air
and light shimmers with tinted green

he holds me up to his mirrors
reflecting many frightened eyes
intended to succumb to their fate
when the world can't see their cries

his slit ears hear no sighing sound
his slant eyes see no ongoing struggle
his tongue flickers in the taste of hunger
as we are about to become one

I never left with a parting glance
nor kissed my loves goodbye
nor could I ever pray to any god
because I am twined with the viper

love,
the most destructive
vulnerability

obstructed by the custom
of guarded humility
that can never pursue
any interest in purity
to keep the living whole
in peace and endless security

     oh, violent vulnerability
     slighted by my words
     whom betray nothing
     of my heart's mind
     but clear cut diamonds
     of the coolest civility
     for mild understanding
     to chain the enraged truth
     seeking to speak
     through these irises
     the purest contradiction
     to the ice burning skin

chalk it up to fantasy
or better yet, reality
swimming in dreams
picking at the seams
something called faith
nothing you can make
but bittersweet smoke
dipping in the tokes
covered in hazy film
sight becoming dim
ears opening to truth
last step from youth
thrown into the water
God's lonely daughter
fighting a breath
with no fight left
listen to the whispers
the cracking bone spurs
as animalistic nature
becomes desire's creature
a twisted marionette
upon the king's deck
but I hold the ace
only thing to trace
back to fantasy
or better yet, reality

must we call for adventure when death lingers
a fear casting a shadow over our every action
so you take action to fight the shadows
hastening the sunset like foolish children
running as fast as they can to watch
the sun pouring down into the water
a flaming yolk cracking upon the surface
the glorious way to die when you were young
but now we know pain and love and hate
and we lose the will to oppose our fates
resigned to live for the material on our plates
all the while admiring the daring heroes
'cause at least they were suffering and better for it
they could so easily break us apart
but to break us would be to mend us again
and again we will stand before judgement
denying the false lenses placed before our eyes
accepting an eternal immortal truth of life given
that must be taken away when the adventure has been won

I wish you caught my lips
moving in sync with a frame
of a song you weren't hearing
as you looked into my eyes

"But how could I know

they are wonderful liars
unlike my truthful mouth
that can never keep a secret
but it kept secrets from you

that everything you say

silently dropping hints
of my flowing love for you
and the discontent I felt
when you easily walked away

are lies about devotion and desire

never understood why I waited
in the dust drifting behind
full of your wavering feelings
that flecked my skin in gold

and I know the spark

it stained me with illusions
that if I mouthed my love
in accordance to the songs
maybe once you would listen

inside your eyes

yet here I am again by your side
singing without speaking
eyes wide open and hollow
my heart caught in my throat

was just the match I used

but you aren't where love is
you are swimming in mahogany pools
while I whisper my secrets
in place of where you should be

*to set myself on fire."

an empty room
swallowed by the storm inside
as thunder roars outside
rain painting the roof black
wind tearing at the walls
as voices lash like echoes of a whip
loud and berating
windows shaking from the severity
all else is silence and waiting
after the screaming
after crying
after the laughter
after sleep
after dreams of lost days
opening eyes to realization
that the tender feelings
had                 long ago
      
        *departed