surely i am the Moon Queen
surely my back itched
how did you expect me not to be
my long paragraphs about my
desire for water were not only witness to a great
desire in me they also understood that i need to dip my fingers
how my back ached wishing it could press tighter against my heart
i need warm bare flesh
another form of protection

surely my desire to change the past cannot move backwards
it bounces back into my chest and mind and hits and hits
we are two swans
elegant and defending another fort both widowed
black swans
that might have been the reason why

surely when the fire dies it still
is ardent among the ashes
for a long time