The Diamond Giver

The Diamond Giver


He wrapped the stones around her neck,
And they lay there, hard and dead
On soft skin. Diamonds, compressed coal,
Faceted lies, a bejeweled collar.
He draped her shoulders in silk and filled
Her arms with roses. But silk couldn’t
Keep her warm and the thorns made her bleed.
He placed a crown on her head,
But it pressed down.

She trudged through, cold and weary,
Arms bleeding and heart heavy.
Life lost color and love its warmth,
And the diamonds kept her, until
He came. He came with armfuls
Of sun-filled daisies and summer cotton.
He came and draped her shoulders
With his arms and kept her warm.
He placed a kiss on her head
And it lifted her up.

In the cool grass and warm sun,
Drunk on wildflowers and cheap wine
They lay in love. Cradled in the meadow
Of new and illicit fervor, they were free.
But when he went to take the diamonds off,
The heavy stones were embedded in her flesh.
He tried to pry them out, but they remained,
A lustrous reminder of her glittering captivity.

They lingered for awhile, but the stones
Grew too heavy with guilt and condemnation.
So they bid a tearful farewell, and she
Trudged home. He ripped the daisies,
And tore the cotton, and once again
She shivered in silk, bled with roses,
And suffocated under diamonds.