NOCTURNE
By S. N. Rodriguez
we women want worship
these whispering tongues pant
drunk on delirious death
a symphony of sweat and shadow
goddesses reveling in the
moonlight lake mist rising to
settle upon our skin
we promenade nocturnal
footpaths unencumbered
eyes electric like fireflies
inhaling stardust and luna
scales as they flutter past
sashay in starlight smiles
unfurling like luminescent
trumpets reflecting moonshine
these bell-shaped angels
evening primrose
nocturnum and
tiarella spiked
waxy petals brilliant
beneath a waxing moon
unbuttoned bouquets
of essence trailing
jasmine and citrus
auras floating untethered
fingers and faces sticky
with nectar powdered
golden with pollen
we are night sphinx
free-tailed broad-
feathered elytra
unfolding to reveal
iridescent wings
ascending into nighttide
unburdened and unafraid
