Fall and Rise

pagan flares flashing
in ritual rhythm
of Faustian fire 
catching flight into schism


feverflame fading
to fruitless caprice
ripple edge whistle
a sigh for surcease


shrivel wind shivers
a chill on her breath
sibilant cipher
foreshadowing death


bloody surrender
her passion unfed
litter light failing
crinkle and wrinkle and curl into bed

to arise
in the wake
of rhetorical sleep
mother nature's untenable ache