she is a silver fish,

spinning on the line

at midnight,

catching the light

of a thousand stars.

she is an angel soaring to

ethereal heights

every hair still locked in place

a perfect smile

painted on her face

she is a bareback rider

in sequined tights

astride her lover’s neck

bowing to tumultuous applause

she is a captive princess

bound to a two-wheeled chair

waiting for a large white steed

with violets woven in his mane

to carry her away

(originally published in Poetry Quarterly)