Ophelia
the courts called it drowning
without questioning where the flood came from
how a man can lead to madness
once you add a few letters
her body preserved perfection encased in a glass river
skin the color of dew on morning petals
Dear O,
he wrote so lovingly
lay down in the water lilies
I promise you can breathe
below–when I push your
head under,
the world will look so
clean.
He promised they’d be different.
that anger never knew his veins
you silly girl,
this body is a vessel
a song of morality
tuned for the player, not
the instrument
tender are the arms that never dare to cause a commotion
how stars can be lilies
white and burning
covering each of her eyes into eternity
