The Stranger

She is dreaming again of the first taste of that sweet- laden, nameless fruit thirst-quenching, juicy which is an oddity in the known world Her hair: a rich cascade of black gold Her skin: smooth ivory untouched by a carving knife Her quickness: a monkey jumping from tree to sinful tree Sin? Yes The robed men killed the fire, then stained her skirt The branches of righteousness are easily broken under the weight of her temptress’ limbs whose touch awakened the tiniest creatures hid in the folds of light Her soundless dance disturbed the order of a secret society---the fearful believers ran amok to look for their gods She never knew that the darkness has mothered so many offspring in heart’s winter by a distant fire that lends warmth to her lonely shadow . . . Light was fading when she opened her eyes The lover sound asleep She felt like a stranger to both of them ---LTG,零肆年秋為友釋夢