The Alchemist’s Lover
My love teaches me algebra,
the abstract intricacies
built of numbers and letters.
She feeds me sweet almonds,
sugared, roasted, till my tongue
is cat-rough. We sit hand in hand
‘midst the courtyard’s greenery
under the orange tree
late at night, white wine
sparkling in our glasses,
the alcohol stirring
our senses. Her kiss
is a promise. She teaches me
everything
except the secrets
of alchemy. Sometimes
I’m jealous of her alembics,
sometimes I want to be the elixir
that she stirs so keenly.
She seeks eternal life:
a gift beyond my giving.
But by God, what I’ll give
is a life worth living.
…
Sara Norja dreams in two languages and has a predilection for tea. Born in England and currently settled in Helsinki, Finland, she lives for words, dance, and moments of wonder. Her poetry has appeared in publications such as Curio, Strange Horizons, Through the Gate, Plunge Magazine, and Interfictions. She blogs at http://suchwanderings.wordpress.com.
CSHS 