when orpheus led his wife out of the dark

Wed, 10/09/2019 - 13:10 -- therese

when orpheus led his wife out of the dark,

through the nebulous host of gathered souls,

in that moment before

the first breath out of water,

did his doubts sit ashen and curdling on his tongue?

is that why he glanced back

and lost her forever?

 

i will not doubt.

i swear to you—

when my grandmother calls us damned,

when the churches and bakeries bar themselves against us,

when the whispers skitter and strike at our heels,

i will not turn my head.

 

not when loving you 

is like an unresolved chord on the edge of salvation,

like cracking open my ribcage with every breath,

plunging towards a storm-tossed ocean,

grasping a sparrow in flight.

for you, my love, i would play a thousand lyres

to the glimmering granite lord of the abyss;

i would call you mine to anyone who would listen

if i didn’t see how it made you afraid.

 

it will not be like this forever.

we’ll just keep taking small steps forward,

and when twilight falls in the land of the dead

and i can’t hear your footsteps behind me,

i’ll think of a softer night:

us barefoot in your kitchen cooking pasta

as you steal mozzarella straight from the bag,

singing along along with the radio

as the lights overhead buzz and waver.

 

when we’re older and stronger,

my eurydice,

i’ll kiss you on our doorstep

and we’ll let the world say what they will.

we’ll play our music loud. we’ll tell the truth.

but for now i’ll wind a lock of your hair around my finger

and pretend my heart isn’t trying

to beat itself into flight.

 

never worry, my love.

i will let the light of the waiting world

and the warmth of your hand

lead us out of the dark.

i will break the chain.

i will keep the faith.

i will not look back.

 

This poem is about: 
Me
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