the way of all flesh 21

          roy herndon smith

          tied up in our scars, we think we're getting free of something
           —Carolyn Steinhoff

the queen, frozen in
the lie of her sovereign
freedom from the flesh

does not know she burns
for the one who burns for her
seeking a fire that

will leave her untouched
she turns to her mirror that
cools all it reflects

it returns to her
the image of snow white in
untouchable ice

the lie consumes queen
image, and mirror; bodies
and ashes remain