it's just a flame
playing at my feet

smoke curling
around my ankles

the lace
is the first to change
into the guileless grey
it's hard
for him to look away

orange
grey
red
wisps
and fingers
wrapping around my calves
to my thighs
consuming
me
stripping
me

burning
against the tree
his hands
once held me to
wishing
i could move
i should have left sooner

all the watches
and all the clocks
fall at his heavy feet
his eyes
like the ocean
blue
and still
drift
in the shadows

please drown me