How he becomes lifeless

with every step

closer to the human side

and the sideways glancing

as if he wears the skin of the beast

how he pulls to be seen

dragging his weight

as if he were handing out volumes

and she fleeing

in a wave

on her upper balcony

the veil

surrounded with ice gladioli

her glass shelter

the scissoring in flight

the beckoning of birds

fleetingly rare

disguised

in a mysteriously soft speech

shaking his head

her steaming tea water

and he dried up in stillness

unarmed and malleable

even in his caution

waiting for a breakthrough

until he could say nothing more

in the symbol of emptiness

that broke from his footsteps

as if everything that can be said

lies visible in his face

the apology

consuming the floodplains of

the body, the languages, the flagellation

of his dream images