Perseus without a shield

Like Medusa you look at me.

Changable eyes of every shade of grey

Turn from cynical self-deprecation

To cutting steel, glittering a warning.

And like Perseus without a shield

I feel myself grow brittle,

Cracks creeping up my spine,

Branching out across my back.

Almost an afterthought,

That polished shield.

I see my own grey abstractions there,

The long shadow I can cast.

Now I feel you close behind me,

Your snakes hissing in my ear.

I slowly raise my eyes to yours –

You see yourself in mine.

And slowly your bent head

Settles on my shoulder.

Like golden ornaments your snakes

Curl around my hand in your hair…