the flame went out
the searching smoke
curled wild and winding
her smile was just like that
uplit incandescence
that nested other worlds
in the hollow of her lip
a wisp
she whispered
scatter me
we were infidels of dark
and clutched it all
our heaving breasts beaten
fists of gathered wax
and ashes
our fingers smudged
the paper angels
as she burned
in other glories
matchless