Ah Matilde Poem by L.B. Temuco

Ah Matilde dark shadow
the purple dawn
you found in me sleeping
is rising now,
spreading itself in thin waves
for all the world to gather up
The muted sounds
of frightened children
of your breath returning to the sun
of a tear crying in my soul
I hear your vanished sounds
your petals closing
the silver flash of your lace wings
your eyes blue-green in the night tides
I saw the sad paleness
of chalk on your lips

Ah Matilde, these hollowed bones
make empty sounds, keep
nothing for themselves
except this inglorious ecstasy
splintered sun you are
uncoil your happiness again
lay on its sweet dross
release me, for I can never leave
but if you come find me,
find me, again, crawl
into my eyes, sigh with arrival
in my mouth, turn so that I know
you have not gone, leave some drop
of pleasure on my skin,

Come Matilde, my late Queen
Come to your Captain
warm my heart again
the long nights with snow
and cherries, licking the blood
from stones. Find me, swim to me
Matilde, un-navigable ocean that you are
I hear your voice in the yellow wind,
the scent of your dark lustrous wine
you sit, tangled in a flock
of ravens that nest
in vines by the sea.

The horizon is a razor tonight
We cut ourselves on its blade
We bleed red and grey into the sky
from our bodies

Ah Matilde
I can never leave
but if you come,
find me, find me again
and crawl into my eyes
I see nothing without you