Courted: a dirge (funded!)

[shweta_narayan]

Clarion 2010 has started -- and we've made the funding threshold for Courted: a dirge, with some extra rolling over for the next poem!

So -- here it is, posted a litle early because I'll be in a car at noon.

(ETA: tithenai  darlingly provided the title; I still didn't have one for it as of last week.)

Courted: a dirge
for Amal

When ice -- mere lace on tree and bone
fills up the cracks and cracks the stone
whose splinter-clouds rain bloody bright
against the queen of winter's white

you'll know -- by footprints on her skin
by frostbite -- by your pulse's din;
through ice-shard winds you'll stumble to
the queen of winter's rendezvous.

Neither love, this, nor abduction;
deathly beauty -- harsh seduction --
gem-hard, frozen firecrest
adorns the queen of winter's breast

and from some cigarette in bed
her heat will dance,  and wail, and spread
From trees to town to fire station --
winter queen's illumination.

All night long you'll keep your tryst
breathe out your warmth to make her mist
'round bodies, blackened walls -- and you
-- the queen of winter's rightful due.

While any blood runs through your heart
you'll do your captivated part;
past shivering -- past cold -- adrift
upon the queen of winter's gift.

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