bathing in secret pools.
mercury roiling.
the fragrance of lovers vaporous.
skin clinging to skin. fire in their eyes
sweet pain in the release
going over.

the gods in their limpid clemency feign truth
upon darkness maligned with them

even in throes of madness
melting at the core
they step from the waters and know the hour.

what is given cannot be broken
by gods or man
only death can pull them apart
and even then….

*angry in the cheat. clouds smearing them with spume
old gods defeated by one hard truth. their hearts surrendered.