An Incision of Pearls

Poem

Image by Nika Akin from Pixabay

Her exposed rose stone
thin as a cry, catches my eye
pulls it from its socket

and I don’t mind
because the children are drunk on cheese
cotton limbs crouched in a game

and he
sulks in a corner of the party
refusing to forgive my outfit

his latest gift
an incision of pearls
battened by breath to my chest

and with it a second surprise
the threat of wrongdoing
in his eyes

my improper dress
my voice too loud
my topic impolitic

best I behave as his prize
while I clutch
the graceful knife

that will cut open our contents
spread them
thick as death.

So I stay quiet to avoid the wrong word
and pay attention to my eye
dangling over her rose stone.