Clepsydra

[NOTE: A clepsydra was an ancient device made of wooden

bowls with holes placed in water and used in the ancient Greek

temples/brothels of Aphrodite to keep time.]

  

Pale Hellenic beauty veiling

her ashen soul, lolling in licentious gaze

through almond eyes of coal.

Raven hair splayed on an ivory pillow,

through a scarlet mouth she hums

my name as softly as Luna's glow.

Reclining under silken sheets

partially concealing small round breasts,

she smiled--genuinely or submissively?

I hungered, then anxiously ate

the wild grapes, dried dates and

licked the honey from her breath.

Aphrodisiacs each, these treats

peddled by salvation-vendors

on the Corinthian agora.

Her waist, lean as the oblique Peloponnese

called my nomadic palms

to a supple Grecian feast.

Yes, you are the Goddess of love,

dissolving the faith of once strong men.

Moans, frankincense and pulse mingled

in a swirling coil above her altar,

gathering like an amorphous cloud

beneath the chiffon canopy.

I gave only adoration to this Cyprian deity,

aflame with approval. It wasn’t long before she exhaled

her musky oracle, and the scent signaled the Gods.

Her  hollow chalice was filling, yet forever

releasing endless libations. Insatiably I sipped

from her salacious Grail, preferring pleasure

to the celibate grace proffered at the Basilica.

Then, the clepsydra dropped, as did my soul.

Time completed, communion consumed,

my countenance now ashen as hers.

I had entered a finite man,

and now knew the desire for the Eternal.

end/Michael Bogar