my enchantress lies between the sweaty sheets
pale moonlight spills across her breast
damp curls of hair hide her solemn face
that only hours ago seemed devilish with lust she sleeps, for the moment looking almost innocent
while I remain awake, shivering, dreading the dawn
the burning sun that will take her away she comes to me on wings black as night
bringing me pleasure and grief, a bittersweet embrace
we greet with a kiss, and her lips of blood and burning leaves taste
bodies moving ever closer, sins of the flesh
swiftly heating the chill night by day, she occupies my every thought
a delicious daydream, a hellish distraction
I live for nightfall when again I might feel her sharp talons
tearing at my flesh, assuring me she's real I brush my fingers over her ghostly skin
as the sun sheds it's cursed brilliance over the horizon
and she leaves me exhausted, alone
oh, how I despise the morning light Andrew Brady Knapp - aknapp@kent.edu
