Hollow Victory
By: Kathleen Chamberlin
Sweat soaked shirt clinging to her back
Struggling against the tangled brambles
That slashed her thighs and arms
Thrusting each limb through thick
Green leathery blankets of pain
She burst into the amphitheater
Bleeding
Battered
Broken
Breath coming in gulping gasps
Turning in bewilderment
Tear-streaked face searching
Searching
Scanning the frozen faces
Seeking the comforting eyes
Of the solitary visage
For whom she had sacrificed all
All dignity
All pride
All semblance of peace
All to know the alluring smile
The pulse racing gaze
The touch of his tongue on her skin
Breathing in the erotic pleasure
Of his body against hers.
Still breathing heavily
She hoisted her staff above her head
Challenging any to deny her.
"I come in victory over all other claimants"
Still circling
Still searching
Sweat slowly evaporating from her face
Still seeking
Suddenly stopping
Before the sullen silent silver-haired matron
Heart sinking she asked
"Where is he? I have done all you demanded."
Blue-gray eyes peered calmly
Without pity or hesitation
"Gone "
Knees buckling beneath her
Kneeling in desperate supplication
Arms drooping to her side
Tired eyes pleading with
The matron, motionless in the oppressive air.
"Where?" her quivering voice pleaded. "Where has he gone?"
With a quick dismissive gesture,
her long fingertips dancing in the air
Indicating no direction, merely a dismissal,
The matron answered, "Away."
Agony burst from her chest
In a long anguished cry
As she tore at her hair and clothes
Staggering slowly and unsteady to her feet
Raising her staff once more above her head
Howling desperately against reality
"When?" she demanded "When? When did he leave?"
She might as well have been asking the air.
A derisive laugh, contemptuous and triumphant
Mocked her.
"Does it truly matter? I told him to go and he went.
Whether it was five months or five minutes ago,
I told him to go and he went".
The matronly smile broadened as she spoke these words,
Spoke them with spiteful scorn
Savoring her victory.
Twisting in a torment threatening to tear her apart
She raised her eyes to the heavens once
Nodding and turning to face her nemesis
A blue eyed matron, smirking at her .
With hatred guiding her arm,
Thrusting her staff deep, deep, deeper,
Into the matronly chest
Feeling her stunned breath expelled
Strangled sounds
Spittle and shock
Watching the light drain from her eyes.
As blood red rivulets coursed down her wrist
And across her breast,
A crescendo of rage sated, she dropped to the earth and wept.
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