ENDLESS

Monica Mechling

Heavy, the crown of thorns the seraphs placed around my head
Cumbersome, the burden as the devil led me to his bed
To all the pleasures that it held
To heaven and to hell.
I dwelled within the place that neither saint nor sinner claimed.
He played.
Endless was his ecstasy seeking out the whore in me.
His breath, sweet music on my breast
His whispers, profane godliness.
And with his adulterated kiss
The demons danced above
A frenzy of unhallowed love.
He would not leave my soul to rest
But tortured me with ravished bliss
And somewhere in the mist of this
Unbridled of my chains
I joined him in unearthly games.
The thorns, now tangled tearing flesh,
Unfelt in all their righteousness.
When done
Exhausted and embraced
He turned to me
His face
I had not seen
His eyes
Pierced, blades unbending, through my gaze
To claim the soul he now encased.
I could not leave.
He kissed me tenderly.
He promised more
Just then I felt the thorns.
The thorns, now deep,
Embedded - blood and tears - to stain
The heart that stopped
The soul that stayed
The pain
His hold
My vow
Sacred, my religious chains
His gift
My wanting flesh
His claim
The thorns
Grown heavy torn apart
Now wrapped protectively my heart.

c.2001