Katy Lederer

Dark Ballad

I thought that you had changed me,
but it was only dark. Your shadow creeping
up the wall, the moon in the window,
the subtle dark kneading my feet.

I thought that you had changed me,
but it was just a dream. Atop a pole,
in frigid wind, the moon in the window,
your kiss, which was dutiful, drear.

I thought that you had changed me,
but it was only wind. Your fingers up
the sharded bone, my fretted spine,
all my vertebrae blown, I can't bend.

I thought that you had changed me,
but it was just a trick. You sawing
back and forth above my chest till
I was cut in half, dark magician.

I thought that you had changed me,
but it was only dark. And now I lie
alone at night, my bed as pure and white
as snow, my filthy heart.