"And he who held her held also in his hand a thing that was burning in flames; and he said to me, 'Behold thy heart.'  But when he had remained with me a little while, I thought that he set himself to awaken her that slept; after the which he made her to eat that thing which flamed in his hand; and she ate as one fearing."  Dante, from La Vita Nuova.

 

Death.

 

Virgin to all her lovers.

 

Ruby lips floating

on a sea of liquid pearl,

glowing redder

with every stolen kiss.

 

Death.

 

Crown of gold

tumbling down, framing

soft twin jewels,

dripping, sweet.

 

Death.

 

Electric eyes,

blue fire,

burning beneath the crown,

piercing, bright.

 

Death.

 

Wedding day.

 

Legs spread like a gaping wound;

welcoming, inviting, beckoning,

wanting, consuming thighs like ivory

towers. . .Islidedownthemintothecavern,

darknessmoistureheatanimalsounds. . .

I am engulfed.

 

Death.

 

Arms spread like an old, old friend.

 

I dive into the pearl sea,

dine on succulent fruit

whose juice has been said to

bring life -- I drink deep deeper

deeply the sweet fluid fills my being

but I grow cold.

 

Death.

 

Ruby lips burning fire bright,

pulsating with a life not their own,

hotmoisttongueslipspastmyteeth

Ipressmylipsagainstitinhalegently.

 

Death.

 

My body now moves like the sea.

 

Living pearl turns ashen gray,

flaming fingernails now green talons

tearing open my back,

ripping out my heart,

laughing eyes as I lie dying,

sit above jet black lips,

which are hard at work

eating my heart.

 

Death.

 

asthelastdropofmybloodentersher

mouthherlipsturnrubyredandgray

giveswaytoanevenbrighterpearl

electriceyesburningfuriouslynow

andwhatIseeinmylastmomentsis

beautymorevibrantthaneverbefore

glowing with a life not its own

till finally  I   meet    my

 

death.

 

1991

Orlando, FL

© Jim Rovira