salome

I had him imprisoned; I had him contained:

the one who disapproved of our marriage.

My eyes were not on him; they were on you

as you danced, as you undulated my mind to madness,

to self-forgetfulness. My mouth opened

and out came promises I couldn't keep,

things I didn't mean. I thought I meant them,

but as soon as they flew out, they dropped

to the floor like so many dead bugs.

I saw them, disgusted, but you

loved them. You smiled down on them.

You opened your sweet little lips

and requested a beheading.

I could not believe it. Surely these words

could not have come out of that pretty head.

But there they were, hanging in the air between us

like some beautiful poisonous flower -

the request, not demand. Oh, no:

it must be voluntary.

You waited and inside my head, a thunderstorm,

my crown slipping from the sweat.

I must decide. I must -

run down from the throne, down

into the dungeon to his cell, axe in hand, ready.

But I couldn't do it. The man was miserable,

blabbering. He barely knew himself anymore,

curled up in a dark corner.

I dropped the axe and set him free.

We fled together, merging at the horizon,

and we never saw you again.