Erosion

Steps leading down to the river
Down to the water where it rushes,
Rushes over rocks smoother
Than his smile.

Her feet on the stones were light,
Bare toes brushing the hewn
Stone.
Sunlight dappled itself through leaves
To fall across her face in perfect scars.

Steps give way to grass
Grass gives way to wildflowers.
Her body pushes through them
Gently, softly.
Her feet dance over the rocks of the bank,
Lead her out further, to where the currents
Swirl around her,
Embrace her.

Water over her arms cool
Like nothing else she can find.
She floats, fingers caressing the waves around her,
Hair drifting around a face
As serene as night.
Her dress floats around her in a cloud of red.

Silence in the fields around her
As though every beast around her strains to listen
To far off splashes
Strains for a glimpse of her,
Strains to see her eyes close, then open once more,
Dark lashes leaving black stains
Across cheeks that long to be caressed.

The midday sun moves behind the guarding trees
Until the water becomes listless and grey,
No longer flecked with gold over every rock.
Her limbs feel heavy and slow
As she pushes herself towards the bank.
Stood on the rocks, her clothes hang off her
In a waterfall of crimson material.

Breathe. The world around her begins to move again.
With slow steps she takes the path back to the house
That watches so jealously.
Above her, he waits,
With a smile as insubstantial as the rocks in the water;
Just waiting to be washed away.