Bound

When the queen's lover is caught sneaking into the castle for a tryst,

the jealous king orders his execution. He becomes a haunting ghost bound to her by his eternal love and undampened affections. His Alfterlife is as dedicated to her as was his walking life. 

 

Bound

 

I " Bellybutton

New sky blown open like my chest wound:

vibrant colors bleed angrily over your baby blue

windows. But, I can still see you;

naked body smiles like a freshly

breakfasted cat. Lust sheen simmers

as gore-polished battle-armor.

Goddess-like contours catch light,

bend shadow, juggle supple delusions.

Sweet poison. Sweeter

apothecary. I’ll be dead before my lips

register the touch. Your perfect bellybutton

will be the last star I wish upon as my unsound

vessel crashes down in a fiery splash

 on this unfeeling

world of icy liars.  

 

II " Glorious Return  

Since death, I have been much brighter.

I swim like a butterfly through

droplets of morning dew

trying to find my way back to you.

I plot my vaporous ascension

into a shifty red heaven in the hopes

that I might become a raindrop that falls

into your fluid curls, trickles through the white-sand

valley between your breasts and ends up

pooled in the last star that stung my rolling eyes.

Ten thousand cherubs will giggle a firefly chorus

of homecoming as I settle into my blessed divot.

 

III - Memory

As shadows dance in graceful slides,

I am a light that glints her eye,

A spark that marks a use-to-be,

A faded blue jean memory.

 

On stormy seas of girlish tears,

I ghost-ride with her through hard years.

And, when her laughter fills the air,

I am the shine on her tossed hair.

 

A thin connection; frayed x 10 ,

A promise that will not give in,

Something sacred we never shared

In life, we both were far too scared.

 

But, now, in death, by her side,

As shadows dance in graceful slides,

I smile the sunshine on her cheek,

And protect her when she feels weak.

 

She misses me all through her days,

Though lesser loves have passed this way,

I may shed petty jealous tears,

All times and spaces find me here.

Reviews

[Kerry O'Connor]

What a fantastic story - told as only you can do it (How I wish I could steal the whole idea for myself!) I love the progression as the ghost seems to fade from remembering all that was physical about the relationship, then emotional and finally, he is all ephemeral - sunshine on her cheek, the shine on her hair.

An instant favourite.