Gantlet
Come
come and answer
Casae's high seat
from which
she will question you
is topaz
chased with gold
at noon
a shaft of sun
will stab
down, through the ceiling
to bathe the seat
in light and heat
in that light
they say
the golden veins
will warm
to the temperature of blood
She is frequently offered
precious gems
as tribute
and she delights
in smashing them
on the floor
around her seat
I wonder
what it would be like
for the profound pleasure
of tearing her down
to walk boldly through
Come
come and answer
Casae's high seat
from which
she will question you
is topaz
chased with gold
at noon
a shaft of sun
will stab
down, through the ceiling
to bathe the seat
in light and heat
in that light
they say
the golden veins
will warm
to the temperature of blood
She is frequently offered
precious gems
as tribute
and she delights
in smashing them
on the floor
around her seat
I wonder
what it would be like
for the profound pleasure
of tearing her down
to walk boldly through
that field of shards
bearing the pain
of a diamond splinter
knowing
that every step
for the rest of my life
would spike me
with its shivering hurt
She will ask
what price
to fill
for the briefest moment
the smallest portion
of the world
filled
negating the void
the pain
for an instant
to see them happy
Answer, now
answer
answer
answer
(c) 2004 Malcolm Deeley
bearing the pain
of a diamond splinter
knowing
that every step
for the rest of my life
would spike me
with its shivering hurt
She will ask
what price
to fill
for the briefest moment
the smallest portion
of the world
filled
negating the void
the pain
for an instant
to see them happy
Answer, now
answer
answer
answer
(c) 2004 Malcolm Deeley
painting copyright Frank Brunner