she planted a garden
filled
with bulbs
that would never
bloom
tended tenderly
every morning
with great care
to keep the nurturing soil
barren.

a salamander
with eyes
of the bluest flame
lay upon
a nest of stones
thinking them to be
eggs
never curious
as to why they do not
hatch.

a broken crown
lays discarded
upon the marble steps
of forever
a brazen
invitation
to insatiable need
compounded
with everlasting
heartache.