Desdemona

constellations linger softly

in the trap of her eyes,

and you are the prisoner,

your heart locked in a cage

thump, thump, thump

“so lonely,” she whispers,

brushing your eyelids

with soft fingertips,

strangers to calluses

thump, thump, thump

now she traces down

the arch of your nose,

every touch reminding

that you are so, so lost

thump, thump, thump

her nails scrape upon

your lips, greedy things

that hunger after her

and she knows it

thump, thump, thump

her other hand slides

to the knife sheathed

against your hip,

softness to steel

thump, thump, thump

but being lost in her

is not blindness

because you knew

the heavy deceit

thump, thump, thunk

her hand falls away,

the stars darkening,

and the warmth

bleeds away