"Leave Krete and come to this holy temple
where the graceful grove of apple trees
circles an alter smoking with frankincense.

Here roses leave shadow on the ground
and cold springs bubble through apple branches
where shuddering leaves pour down profound sleep

In our meadow where horses graze
and wild flowers of spring blossom,
anise shoots fill the air with aroma.

And here, Queen Aphrodite, pour
heavenly nectar into gold cups
and fill them gracefully with sudden
joy."

-Sappho

heart of fire

I realized today
I have been asleep
for days,
perhaps weeks

But now I awaken
I breathe

In the museum today
I read;
"... and god breathed life into zombies"

I laid on the bench and listened
as breathing enveloped me,
filling the white room,
bouncing off the sharp walls
at slow angles

suddenly the breathing stopped,
a different rhythm began picking up pace

I sit up
there is fire within me
and I want to scream,
but I can't-
what if I scream and fire comes out?

then
people
might think
I am a dragon.