RED CORAL

RED CORAL

she came to me
wearing an anklet of red coral
her hair sea-wet, like
a goddess from the Iliad
or Odyssey

everything about her seemed to rhyme
seemed in time
to some
secret rhythm, in
tune to some
sacred music
that I, or
indeed any
mere mortal,
had ever had
the pleasure
(the exquisite
pleasure
of heating
even a note or
phrase or chord before)

and though
the ocean was distant
I imagined her
riding, naked
but for her anklet,
up to my
front door

which opened freely
no needing to knock
or call
or answer questions

the anklet
blazing like fire

like blood for
a sacrament

as she
strode like a leopard
across the stone-tiled floor