masked
masqued
Esme(e) and Violet
she in burgundy and black caped, she in violet
with white lace from satined shoulders falling
not more pure than joy transfiguring her face
so it was it shone,
and Esme(e) pale, hazel-eyed,
enclasped by sapphire wings and
Violet's black beating beating minutely
keeping quick quiver of
her heart as it changed forever
they danced pointing toes
which did not touch, lifting
arms which did not touch nor
the shoulders turned toward the other
and again
and again
gentle curve and flex of hand to
the beat of drum and bells solely
touched 1 palm to palm
surely touching souls did glass palm
to palm 1 drum beat long palm
to palm
and again
and again
palm to palm warm, seeking briefest
touch complete union in the breath of 1 beat
long
Esme(e)'s palm to Violet's palm to union
full, complete, full unimagined.
Masked
by sapphire wings across
whose span silver comets glittered as she moved
but no more than did
eyes which pierced the feathered blue and
changed that proud majesty to gaudy by their
potency from depths stirring hearts
desire to fall known
before that countenance.
Masked
by unplumbed night the
black enclosing starry orbs veiled
gray shining shining
with joy unseen before
this night masquerade, masque,
masked they met in dance beyond
while remaining not departing the
book-lined chamber warmed with red-gold light
danced courtly, danced in meeting, danced
known in greater knowing far
beyond perception far furthering trembling
of the beating beating hearts desire
extinguished in a moment in
these moments hung beyond all measure, all attempt surpassing,
shaming all attempt danced
With
hands clapping, clasping, clapping,
all were held by the dance but
though all stood and saw and said all were
masked, masqued,
from that which birthed
in space and time unmeasured palm nearing palm
in touch.
Black,
white checkered floor, burgundy hangings,
claret in goblets. Truth
1 drum beat long.
