Her hands would be quiet
bound together like
two clinging naked animals
they looked more peaceful in gloves
as if the cloth offered protection from eyes
that might discern their secret
on rare nights they could not restrain
and danced about most elegant
like swans as they lift into flight and circle
but they have fallen silent for months
sickness glistens sweat disgraces them
paler now than ever any quiet spell before
one night they wore the look of wax
completely still awaiting nothing
animals know not the hope of resurrection
from Notebooks copyright (c) 1994 Raven Victoria Erebus