(a trifle)

Licorice fire
And twilight on her skin;
Orion, Sagittarius,
And twilight once again.

Licorice fire
The snow and grapes of sin;
At first and being boys we thought
It’s lust and lust alone
But that would not explain
How many of us died for her
Without regard for pain.

Licorice fire
And dawn the hemlock brings.
Their tongues are numb from overuse,
And now the red bell rings.
We could have left and saved our lives,
But angels they have made
The embers of our baser thoughts
Into the rubies of a god,
And paved a road with them.

Licorice fire
And twilight on her skin;
Our blood will henceforth gloom like dawn,
And we will hunt with them
Whose hounds are baying in the stars,
Until the red bell rings.