aka Postcards, Coats of Arms, and other Conflagrations

Long before I was in my bubble looking out to sea
a morning star above a crescent moon
enjoyed its first sip of the day;

Contemplating how good this beer or espresso tasted or looked
in on laundry zigzagging windows
where people seeking refuge still held court
within the walls of a Roman Diocletian Palace,
it's local limestone - a tarnished argent.

Along the northern axis of its entrance
marbled archways and columns flanked
a checkerboard peristyle with odd white flowers
playing peakaboo skyblue with its mates;

White blue white blue billowing and breezy
so easy to fall into its mesmerize.

As commonplace as my lips
now brushing against yours
juxtaposed the blueprint of a grandiose design;
our sex is devouring and savage -
a reaper of wicks and watchtowers.

The black sphinx was huge and cracked in the city of Split
her bodice broken at the ribs;
what better fissure
a lion for a lamb
to slake her golden seal?

Into her vessel I slip
lit
my divorce papers
flitter and fly away.

01/27/2013

Author's Note: The Diocletian Palace in Split, Croatia, was built by the Roman Emperor- Diocletian in the 4th
century AD. Over time it went through periods of abandonment, was used as a safe refuge by
residents to escape invading barbarians, and was still occupied at the time of my travels through
Yugoslavia, August 1989.

Guarding the palace is a black granite sphinx with women's head, lion's body, and offering vessel in her hand
(dating from about 1450 BC).

Posted on 01/27/2013
Copyright © 2024 Elizabeth Shaw