Even the roughest
Shell of an oyster
Can sometimes contain
A beautiful pearl,

Annona had said
To Amy the night
Before as she lay
In her mistress’s

Arms, and you are my
Pearl, she remembers
Her adding as she
Turned towards her and

Kissed her. Now she waits
As her mistress starts
To slowly dry and
Dress herself after

Attending the baths,
The words still in her
Mind, the kisses still
Imprinted on her

Flesh. Attend me as
Any slave girl would,
Annona had said
That morning on the

Way to the baths, no
One must suspect there
Is any difference
In the nature of

Our relationship.
Amy knows about
This. Discretion is
Part of her makeup,

Part of her training.
Even this new love
Has its dark dangers.
Marcus returns soon,

Annona says, and
Then we must both be
Extra cautious, must
Tread carefully. She

Gazes at Amy
Who stands and watches
Her. The beautiful
Pearl, she now muses,

Drying her foot, such
A delightful find,
A fine purchase in
The slave marketplace.

Amy nods and smiles
And bends down taking
The small towel from her
Mistress’s hands and

Dries the foot. If it
Weren’t for those others
Nearby at the baths,
She would lean down and

Touch the head, feel the
Hair, kiss the lips, sense
The flesh on flesh, stare
Into the eyes, see

Brave new worlds there. If
Only she was more
Braver than she was;
If only she dare.