living in a crystal box
she dances on the waves
like a fairy without wings
she no longer knows her name
before a rising opal moon
her footsteps cast no shadow
but beyond a single doubt
she feels her incompleteness
her toes sink into chill water
and she is wet to the ankles
until he sees her, Sees her
and everything changes
instantly things change
though she has yet to sense it
swiftly as a doe she flies
nearly bringing him to tears
he must, he will catch her
girl child of ether, pale spirit
as she has captured him completely
with a sole unguarded glance
he sleeps rarely, and dreams of her
while he weaves a gossamer net
not knowing when she might appear
and yet he will be ready
within her something moves
that for eons has not wakened
she needs must approach him
compelled for foggy reasons
elusive as a wood sprite floating
she hovers just beyond his reach
on a high bluff a wise woman dwells
who agrees to take her in, this wild lass
though she be little more than a vision
she advises using music as a lure
one night luck smiles upon him
or she becomes too curious
she skips across foam too shallow
the net is cast; her feet touch dry land
faster and faster now the change
vague memories pull strangely at her
she has no fear; her skin is like ice
he has her, and yet he has her not
she gives no sign of quickening
somewhere a crystal box is locked
into firelight she walks bemused
she recalls nothing like a home
what now will you do with her?
the elder woman asks him
and he has no ready answer
save a question of his own
what is she? or who was she once?
an aged voice speaks of an ancient time
when the old gods still ruled the earth
long gone now... all except one
a daughter forgotten even to herself
the goddess of justice, ever impartial
her father hid her tender heart
so she would not be swayed by pity
powerless, but bound still, she dwindles
as passing years flit by... at least, she did
in other times, in other places
the story of his quest is told
it is a legend worth the listening
the man who loved the living myth
how he journeyed far and long
without the days touching him
since part of his heart, too
now lay within a crystal box
and how that fragment led him
to the whole of what she'd lost
but of her, little is said
for she did normal, homey things
spent her hours at human tasks
in a cottage by the sea
sometimes gazing at the water
to guage if she could swim
dancing only on the sandy shore
laughing to be laughing, now, aloud
but that she might not wait for him
never even crossed her mind
when at last he returns
he gives her the box unopened
and she looks upon it in shock
capable of that much emotion
her fingers brush its surface
tracing thread-like inscriptions
the power of it swamps her
she feels faint but keeps it close
what do I want? she does not know
yet for the first time ever, she asks
the box is lovely; a shining casket
but what it holds remains foreign to her
to reveal it would change everything
again and forever... what do I want?
choice is like a bottled genie
somehow she knows she must wish
but her heart, this mysterious thing,
is in the box... what does it yearn for?
be gentle to yourself he says only
she looks at him, she Sees, and understands
she does not, cannot, love him
with her heart encased in crystal
yet there is something in his eyes
that she desires to share
to open the box is to become whole
but not human, still not human
she would once again feel fully
before, like all her kind, she faded...
she looks again at him, Sees him
that the world still shifts gives her hope
she remembers fairness, ingrained
as for gentleness, she can only pray
to be with you, we both deserve this
she says, but he stops her hand
is this what you want? he asks, be sure...
she senses that he knows of her dilemma
still he smiles for her, and she understands
an open chest, and open heart within her breast
glorious, she judges him worthy, and stays
his faith sustains her; immortal love alters him
what truly happened within that moment?
even they were not entirely certain
in her last act as fate, she rewarded his merit
they were not made the same, but nearly so
the wise woman told them this:
humans loved by gods are blessed
they do not die until they choose to
even gods who transform to almost mortal
while his cherishing wanes not, she will endure
and, kissing her daughter, the old one passed |
