Glass Walls, No Windows

Glass Walls, No Windows

Shattered glass from howling gales

Pierces my skin in a burning hail

And brings with it a windy wail

That turns the tablecloths to sails

And throws open the door

In rush her teeth and eyes and lungs

Leaping o’er the ladder’s rungs

Cursing ‘bout the house in terror

And prancing like ten fiery mares

She tears apart the door

From under glass I rise up shaken

Startled at the windy maiden

Whose gusts, that, with anger laden

Set the very stones to shaking

And now cast down my lamp

Oh, solitude – no light to aid

Against the tempest’s harsh brigade

I turn in fear from the outdoors

Darkness to heed forevermore

And leave the shattered lamp

Bare feet bleeding from the shards

Memento to my broken guard

Now in my home confined and barred

Still reeling and by terror jarred

I see a striking girl

Few steps from me, she stands and smiles

Nothing of the breeze’s guiles

She’s love and lovely; our eyes meet

She’s none of bitter, all of sweet

There’s truth within the girl

But smiles to cries and love to fear

What monster is it, coming near?

Writhing on the floor once pure

Repugnant evil, why come here?

Trap the foul, writhing thing!

A pot of earthenware is found

She traps the thing upon the ground

But when we think that all is well

An odor from the creature swells

Why torture us, wretch’d thing?

Within the pot, the creature leaps

Upon her face (the poor girl weeps)

And then from her the worm does reap

All of her, from very deep

Drinks out her very soul

What it wants, taken, the thing departs

And with it, the best part of my heart

Where is the meaning in our embrace?

Where is the truth that once lit your face?

God, it stole my lover’s soul!

Ought I to mourn you, and treat you as dead?

Ought I to burn you, put ash on my head?

But your face – your face! Still at me does stare

But the part that was you – that is no longer there

What have you done – done! Why this terrible crime

Come back if you dare, you’ll not take me this time

For the wind again blows in a fiery gust

I break like the lamp and I crumble to

dust.