Death in Bloom
A burning crimson coated her sunken cheeks
in unblended hues of carrion essence.
While smeared on her lips in rufescent stain,
the heavy, masked glow of radiant purulence.
As Carmelite silk cocooned her chilled remains,
petal-colored pools swelled her ivory palms —
as sickly sweet as seraphic psalms;
their plangent echoes in spacious refrain.