Love story
It’s deep in the water,
So I’ll need equipment:
Oxygen tanks, a mask,
A suit to keep out the cold,
A torch to light the way,
A lifeline either way,
A sharp knife, and
An excuse for failing,
For returning to the surface
Breathless and empty-handed,
A reason for standing in the shallows,
Bloodless and still flailing.
the fall
Nike hesitates to cross the street
her hand held out in mid-air
just above ground zero
as if to stop traffic
tanks rumble past
the ground trembles
her wings coated in ash
she resembles a statue to an old hero
she cannot compare
her ears fill with static
a laurel wreath in tatters at her feet
Ares with no regrets
is smoking a cigarette
and leaning against a lamppost
on the other side of defeat
