Dreams of a Pomegranate Red Dress

I lie beneath the cherry tree,

Its blossoms mocking me through falling snow.

The serpent slithered onto me and twisted

Around my haunches into an ichthys on my pelvis.

It grabs my knife as I try to plunge it

Into my abdomen to carve out a cave.

“Eat of the fruit” says the serpent as it

Coaxes a pomegranate onto my breast.

The cherry blossoms fall as they chant

“Stars, hide your fires!

Let not light see these black and deep desires”

As I plunge my thumbs into the fruit’s flesh,

Tearing it open to reveal a red dress.

The serpent wraps it around me and

Like a gentle flame begging to be snuffed out,

I lay alone among the fallen blossoms and snow.