Belle Poem by Sherry Asbury

Belle of the ball, darling of every man’s eye,
I floated ‘neath my emerald gown gracefully
So many pretty men held out their hand to me
Spurning them coquettishly, I batted eyelashes
behind which my predator’s eyes ravaged
each suitor
Beauty resplendent, darling of no other belle
Captivating, dancing on the floor where no
mirror laid its encumbrances upon me
No need to seek pale reflection when every
eye marks me and sends me swooning glances
Princes and poets, emperors and fools, all
made a clumsy queue to vie for my next dance
Laughing, I let them twirl me and felt their
hot breath on my neck
Hunger rose
Tenderly I went through the menu, summing
up plumpness or paucity of flesh
My upturned nose could scent the ill and
ruined, and this night I was having none of
those
Then sweating eagerly came young soldier
in laughing brass buttons and tender eyes
Enchanted with me, he led me round the
floor
I feigned faintness, allowing him
to take me to a cozened balcony,
where he, with beating heart,
did touch me tenderly
Alas, balcony in form only
Dining hall elaborate and flowery
When the hot spurt of his blood
flowered my lips, my center burst
its dams as well
I will not kill him, this sweet one
I have sired, too savory for a snack
Instead he shall a banquet be