La Mer

On rocky shelf she stands,
toes grasping dampened rock,
peering into ebon depths swirling at her feet.
Skin dressed in glowing mist.
eyes clouded,tongue traces tainted Lips.

In blazoned sky lunar strength climbs
drawing foamed tendrils higher,
lipping flesh exposed.
A swelling wave rolling, rolling on.

Like a lover's breath
brine-filled breeze brushes through ashen locks.
Emerald, sapphire voices,
an expanding chorus echoing forth, intensify,
rising and striking the hardened clay to which she holds.

Woven cloak clings to moistened breast,
trembling stance held firm,
pale eyes turn heavenward.

An unyielding crescendo, quivering stone
surging abyss crests, amplified:
smashing forward, crushing breath.

Shrapneled depths fly,
stinging white knuckles clasped to shards of sea.
Her violent scream masked by thunderous tide.
she succumbs, swaddled by frigid void,
enveloped by the breadth of Terror.

(November 22, 1997)

Image by Bob Talbot.

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