Misteriosa

Gelato at midnight.
Strawberries and cream under the full roman moon,
soft and cool and
she's a secret you can't keep,
a knot you can't unravel,
a song stuck on repeat.
She smiles at you and her shoulders are glazed in
silvers and blues and you swear
she glows like she could make the earth move,
like she could rend it under her fingertips,
like she could break your heart without trying
but man, what a ride.
There's blood rushing in your ears and you're
desperate in desire, desperate in fear-
wanting to be a part of her image and
terrified of tainting it,
you watched her walk away.

Red Dress Evening

The devil and God are casting lots for my soul.
It's a funny feeling, betting your soul on a game of rummy,
drinking too much wine and begging the bartender for a glass
of whiskey because the point in the evening has come where one
needs something a bit stronger.
I'm laughing a bit too loud and smiling a bit too freely and wishing
that you would just come over here already, haven't I been begging
you all evening, glancing over my glass?
I deal ultimatums to you like blackjack hands-
It's either yes or no, stay or go, now or never, I won't wait one more
minute, how dare you try to ask me to wait forever. I've got black and red cards,
four suits, none in grey. Fair warning, the house stacks the deck.