it makes
sense
she says
to herself
they only
come to kill
not to love

seeing him
in the shadows
half naked
bright shield
held up
a speculum
a blue light
flickering
above a
white horizon

she could
not resist
her sister’s
huddled
beside her
weeping

all these
years waiting
surrounded
by stone
turning
to stone

she smelled him
in the darkness alive
music everywhere
women wailing
her own heart beating

there is no
forgiveness
in never
being loved

being held
at arm’s length
always forced
to see herself
in someone else’s lies

even the snakes are weary of her