I stand silently
the brittle bones at my feet
four hundred years
we’d always loved each other
even before we turned
were turned
Siberia our first home
wild and remote — safe
but Alexei wanted more
theatre — dances — rich men
was I not enough for him?
no one missed the poor
so many in the city
but he wanted rich young men
for sex, to feed
he envied their live warmth
became addicted to drugs
became careless
rumours circulated
those seen with us late at night
never seen again
we argued and I left him
that was a month ago
twilight — awake at the farm
I sensed his passing
flew in the dark of night
heavy rain in the city
our house in smouldered ruins
his coffin on its side
pulled from the cellar
before he could wake — helpless
they pierced his heart and burned him
they took him from me
my love — my foolish love
if only he listened
my heart aches for him
his beautiful eyes gone
his mischievous grin gone
his dimples gone
his silken hair gone
his knowledge gone
his embrace gone
everything
gone
our long adventure now done
I clasp his jade finger ring
my keepsake now
I survey the streetscape
it is night and I hunger
I must feed