What Mattered
About love despite everything.
Didn’t matter
the darker tone of her skin,
or the bleakness of his pride.
Didn’t matter
the starkness of his banner,
or the riot of her songs.
Didn’t matter
the bare skin of his skull,
or the braids in her hair.
Didn’t matter
the hateful seal his fathers hid
under the collar of his shirt.
Didn’t matter
that other brand her fathers hid
in the marrow of her bones.
What mattered was
the hem of her skirt,
lifted just enough
to flash a sliver of her thigh.
What mattered was
her fishnets catching
on the stormy currents
of his ocean eyes.
What mattered was
their intertwined fingers,
the tremor in her chin,
his shuddering gasp.
What mattered was
how she arched into his touch,
and how he kissed her goodbye,
as though she might never be back.
What mattered was
their breaths racing against their ribs,
when neither remembered
to which side they belonged.
Night, this is an absolute masterclass in star-crossed passion. One can practically feel the desperation in that goodbye kiss. Beautifully written tragedy.🖤🖤
Excellent use of repetition and imagery