Galba wears the Purple

First the darkness grows
from a dark blue
bruise of sky,
until almost tangible.

Then, through a malicious
whisper of rain,
a siren flickers .

You become a mermaid.
Your body brown,
such white teeth.

Beneath the blanket waves,
you shake seaweed
from your hair,
glide your hand over water,

as I gather Nero`s rags
watch his life spin
like a sliver of coin.

And even though
your name is a ghost,
somewhere in the dawn
and this constant distance

I still think of you.