He said he loved her.
Somehow, this time, the words
knew the path through the thick
shadow green jungles to her heart.
His eyes were masked in earnest,
with the most subtle of adornments
she gazed at him, daring herself to fly.

The spider spun a lavender web, scented
with a lily's breath, awaiting his love.
She gingerly approached her edge...
and leaped for all the gods to see
He would be her Orpheus, guiding her
toward the light! Her shrouds would fall
away, like leaves in August
because this time, he would not turn around.
He would not turn, turn, turn away
He would not

stay
she wondered
not stay, he said
'cannot stay'
she remembered
as he sliced his fingertips
across her moist reddened cheek

as she lay in her lavender web
the gods sent a sprinkle of rain
each drop that landed on her web
remained, and he, her black Orpheus
would not, could not see
the shimmering diamonds surrounding her
mile after mile behind him.