gotică.

narrative free-verse

---

i walk through 

a chapel 

built for gods 

no one remembers.


twisted ivy, like breathing membranes

swathed over exposed rock—

the stone holds its breath, and i wait with it.


kneel my body at the altar. gilded blood, whites stretched thin,

bone-tired.

“draga mea, m-ați uitat?” / “my darling, have you forgotten me?”

yes. a whisper. the world has.

saints stare their faceless faces at me; long slashed clean
from wet, rotting limestone.

their hands outstretch in silent prayer; to an equally silent
heaven.

i slash my wrists, bend it to an offering.

recite the words that maybe, this time,
someone will hear.

take me to the bone;

take me to the aether;

“draga mea; deveniți una cu mine” / “my beloved, become one with me.”

take me to the earth—

a bell rings out, shatters the quiet.

a single white rose lies on cold, wet 

solid stone.

my breath catches; my eyes tracing its petals, and

the altar shudders; 

/ alive  
            once
   more. /

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inspired by the film nosferatu and its aesthetic ; language used in italics: romanian