tears (spooktober)

i.

when the moon shines

and the stars shed their skins,

she sits at the well

while pearls drop into holy water

when her eyes are dry

and the wishing well is salted

she draws a single bucket

and dips in a single finger-

when the goldfish bloom

delicately in the water,

she smiles for the first time since yesterday

and rose petals fall from her lips.

ii.

when the clouds beckon

and they drop their heavy burden,

she steps into the roadside ditch

while lizards crawl around her neck

when her eyes are dry

and the leaves have covered all the tails

she stares into a puddle

plunges in her hand-

when serpents slither from her fingertips

their poison stinging her nails,

she laughs for the first time since yesterday

and toads hop from her mouth.

iii.

a pearl necklace waits

wrapped around a glass bottle in the ditch,

lizards snooze in a fishbowl

balanced on the side of a well.