holy matrimony (vesuvius)

a girl watches the volcano at pompeii 

erupt on her wedding day 

and thinks that she has never been so blessed.

ash lands on her lips and it tastes rotten

still the sweetest kiss she’s ever received

it burns her tongue

and tastes like salvation.

the night before: spear against 

her skull in the bath 

parting her hair into braids;

purity and chastity.

it is very hard to drown yourself in 

shallow water.

it is very hard to 

look your mother in the eye.

in the girl’s dream she’d been diana

crescent moon scything down to her

neck like some overly kind reaper.

the yellow-red veil was an omen after all.

icarus was no fool

his fall was fiery destruction and freedom

she thinks she feels the sun behind her eyes

in her final moments she hacks off 

chunks of hair and chokes on laughter and smoke

the asphodel meadows don’t 

sound so bad anymore

at least in asphodel there are flowers

at least in asphodel she 

can be a child.