Bells for Her

I gave myself to the enemy—

to the cold, white halls,

the everlasting night,

the sharp crescent moon,

and the desert that stretched on forever.

To the bare room where I stand

looking out the single window,

and trying to keep my mind

from anything but staring out

at the barren place

that is the only world

I will ever see again.

-

To the man who follows me

with empty green eyes;

skin whiter than the moon;

slender fingers like spider legs,

than threatened to hold me down

and force me to eat,

when my stomach turned from the thought of food.

-

Why did I do this?

Why…

To protect my precious people.

-

The boy I love,

hair like oranges growing in summer;

strong arms

that never held me.

I stand on the sidelines of every battle,

helpless but to hope

that he makes it back alive.

-

But she…

she fights beside him.

Dark haired, tiny and thin,

but with a voice and temperament

that fills every room and calls to him,

the boy I love,

with anger, and pride, and passion.

And he answers her.

He always answers her.

-

It was the only thing I could do…

to leave him, leave her, and the path

that they are walking together.

And walk my own path

into the dark room,

and the dark man whose eyes follow me,

and pray, to whatever god is listening

that they forsake me here.