inked pallet

illustrated in ink
her dark hearts tales all told
all but one
his visage haunts her every breath
her bronzed skin
the inked pallet upon which i lay
the foundations of this dream
like a golden chalice laid upon a roughian's hand
wet lips pause round the more difficult things
like things she would never wish to say
as she weighs them carefully on her pierced tongue
dry eyes as she weighs implications on her unadorned mind
find her soft hand
and unleash my aloneness on it gently
she smiles a quick vulnerable smile
i reassure with strength
she looks up into my eyes with doe in headlights love look
we draw images of ourselves for others to dream upon
we draw images of what others tell us we are
end of the day
its alone in that mirror of your own closed eyes
that you must measure
you must pass or fail