Dear Gallantry
The shadow
of the unseen
groundedness
ethereal
skittering claws
on laminate floor
MEW and the splash
of milk poured kindly
I walk to
the temple
hands clasped
feet bloodied
by pilgrimage
I have escaped
two cults
& am now
a pilgrim
in an empty room
walls dissolve into
ecstatic space
galaxies permeated
by lantern lights
opened over lightyears
some long extinguished
into the underworld
a pilgrim’s womb
am I electric
circuit open
lips apart & move
toward
am I electric
if sparks would
come between us
should we kiss
am I electric
bad to touch
I know not what
ill thoughts
your mind produces &
can produce
a stained extreme perversion
pressed over truth
If my mind convince me
You’re the One
The mother being in us all
The child, fun
Yet still the warrior
standing tall
If my mind convince me
choose dead end
Plant the seed, Oh
Foe Destroyer
Reap the harvest, Oh
Great Enjoyer
I see the flame
alight in you
Like a moth I’m drawn
Oh please undo
Like a fly in your web,
Thanatos taboo
The mentor, a gem
my teacher, a guide
The sword in the rock,
Eros, my pride
Tears fall in my lap
in the castle alone
I unearthed the mask
to hide
behind the offering
of pearls
A broken heart reveals
I’m not diamond nor stone
As the flame ignites
the animal yields
So I sought you out, Gallantry,
found you on high
along with your mind and your songs
and your thigh
which I’ve touched in my sleep
as I’ve stroked your hair
I’ve touched you in places where
you usually take care
to preserve with resignation
that we should not be caught
staring too long while we’re working
or not, because
we’ve paused for laughter – my
god overall
I can’t help but wonder what
may come after
for you loved Cattle Call, and that
had me in
hysterics, a place I call home
giddy with giggles
and hellbent to roam.
Yet I
simply walk to the village
just over
that bridge, and I walk there
so slowly
Climbing a mountain to get to
the ridge
finding a heart, healed & holy
set apart
loving the self, deep ocean
reminisce – you’ll
do me the pleasure of delivering
this life’s first kiss
though we’ve shared infinite karma
what’s to ripen
right now can delight and amuse
us while we
still develop, unattached, somehow
we’ll figure
it all out. Are you with me?
Gallantry?
xx, The Empress
The Halfwit Writer 