Ophelia  

Ophelia resurfaces
calm. displeased.

Her silence has kept her alive
the watery cell became her healing place

She learned how to breathe under water
how to make love to slick things

with tongues like fine leather
eyes that see everything
cold things,
with no regard for her slim neck

colors that forced her eyes open
forced Ophelia to know herself
sounds that would make violins cry
still fill her mind
make her smile

O. learn how to wear vulnerability
like a badge, how to use calm as
a weapon

how to swim with her eyes open
and not bleed
herself
all
over
the
place

where is her artist now
who would sacrifice her
for his art?
....

in her beach house she creates
necklaces made from sea glass
with 90 price tag, sells them to
lonely poets

always choosing that one poet
with a sweetest voice
to suffer her love
for a while

yes O. is cruel now,
she owns a fish tank
filled with her former fellow citizens

Ate lobster last night with Rhone
drank wine, sucked his fingers
as he inserted two into her mouth
and held  them there, at the end
her throat
daring her

{if he only knew}

later...
near the bay window
her long braid is tied around her wrists
her neck vulnerable
pulsing

the window is open
rain pelts her slim form
she sways and smiles

he does knows her.