The Offense of the Goddess

Before the fault was found

Horae drew her bow

Raised it to his beating lungs

And let fire her flaming salvo.

His offense was that he breathed the air

Of the goddess.

For he spake his love in great excesses

His image,

His molten work;

He spoke to her often

About the banner over her

The ensign,

The fleeting glimpse he gave her ivory neck

As it bore nude cream to the sumptuous shoulders.

So, she drew forth her iron bow

And shot the crease of his ribs

And penetrated his collapsing lung.