flaming jewels

i've been as sweet & slo

i've been as sweet & slo
as molasses
for years

but i can wear
wickedness
as well as
anybody

(even better)

all my weapons
of cruelty
are blunt--

soft hands
soft/er eyes
soft/est heart

o! i am
merciless
in their use--

my hands are dirty
but my lips
are clean

and the words
come from me
in a cloud of steam

"no" or "safety"
or "power" or
"wish"

i'll say

and you'll reach to
touch or strike me
and feel
only the brush
of nonexistant wings

like a pillar of salt
like a burning bush
like the breath of god
or the water of life

and the worst
is when you look
into my
gentle
intelligent
eyes

(for kindness
and intellect
are fatal)

i almost pity you--

you'll be dead
your blood
painted on the lintel
but you won't even know you're
gone

because i'll be holding you
still
in my clear eyes
and cold mouth.

jewel@gleeful.com
a seraph production