Raymond's Choice
By: Melissa Ridley Elmes
At the keyhole
your eye pauses-----------------(knowing better)
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then
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peers through--------------------at beauty beguiling
glimpses between--------------to death dancing
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------------ ------------- ------------
---------now-------------and-------------then
---------Melusine------------------------Dragon
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---------legs-------------tails------------wings-----------scales
fairy------------wife-------------savior mother---------destroyer
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------ -------------- --------------
life-giving---------------soul-lusting---------------splashing siren
---------bright shadows------------surrender-----------------------eternal
------------ ----------------------
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---------coils------------shimmering skin---------------cries in the night
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Fortunes gained and lost in your gaze—
hers and yours and your children’s and your children’s-children’s—
and you were warned, you were warned.
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Withdraw the eye
leave quietly----------------------------hope hopelessly
maybe she didn’t see you
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