Winter Escapes (cont'd)

III
Lisboa Crepúsculo 

Church bells echoed through the tiny Becos of Lisboa.
A December evening,
golden like oranges-
with warm perfume they hung fat on the trees in front of cathedrals,
and their flesh smelled promising.
And you,Santa Maria,
I entered you.
I kneeled in front of you
I licked the juice of my fingers,
while songs heavy with tears rose into the dark corners of your hall.
Redemption-
as if...


But nothing of that promise,
only bitterness.
For us to suffer, always suffer.
No sweet syrup touched my lips.
Acid lingered sour on the tip of my tongue that does not know their songs.
It failed to seduce,
I longed too much
Santa Maria,
for candied cherries and custard.
So, I left you during twilight,
golden like oranges-
its rays beaming through the cracks of your marble skin
but promises only night.

Copyright © 2012 Julia Milz