The Asra

The Asra

Every day so lovely, shining,up and down, the Sultan’s daughterwalked at evening by the water,where the white fountain splashes. Every day the young slave stoodby the water, in the evening,where the white fountain splashes,each day growing pale and paler. Then the...
Eva Luna

Eva Luna

The patron showed very little interest in domestic affairs; he lived for his horse races, studying bloodlines, calculating the law of probabilities, and drinking to console himself when he lost his bets. There were times his nose turned the color of an eggplant, and...
My Death

My Death

My death waits like a maid at night, At the swinging of the scythe, To gather up the time that passes. My death waits just like a princess At the funeral of my youthfulness, To remind me that time passes. My death waits like Maleficent, On the day that we wed, To...
Pricksongs & Descants

Pricksongs & Descants

so bless me I’m ruminatin on the old times when virtue was its own so-called reward and acquired a well-bejeweled stud in the bargain propped up there in the stale limp sheets once the scene of so much blood and beauty like I say propped up and dyin away there in my...
Amaryllis Night and Day

Amaryllis Night and Day

Amaryllis seemed preoccupied. ‘See you in my dreams,’ I said. That got a smile, then she drank about half her whisky and began to cry into the rest of it. ‘What is it?’ I said. ‘What’s the matter?’ She wiped her eyes, blew her...