Alchemisland

Lacing papers, taming agent’s taper flamed, inhale the vapours

Go through the day with my nail file

I am facing a strife-stabbed life of breaking iron

Closing maidens nail-lined

Laden silence, nail biting

Languid sloth paces I find grinding

Snail like, pervasive maiden quiet

Bitten too many times; when a hand extends I shy from strikes.

I am tracing her lines

I am behaving unlike when I hated my life.

Someone opened the gate but I am hopeless, must be chased

Hopeful light encases me

I shine like an opal grave

Lady sun’s scathing touch coruscated. I’m made alien within my scales

Somehow two scalenes brought to balance, harmonised scales

Acts I have seen depicted on ancient urns

Early dirty scenes, I would rework, please.

Sweetmade gaze

Ever hazy

Turns like the fatemaking worm from a chaster life

I will taste salt, runny butter and honey, if I have to lick if off a knife.

The force of her kindly mace

Dents what I had come to believe was my carapace

A sense of untensing, of intense relief

Of one gleeful moment intentionally made neverending

I am foaming, I need medicine

I’m speaking to old gods like a Roman denizen

I make my own fates, I won’t be made omen reticent.