Her Miner's Canary Poem by Hakeem Rahim

Oft warning herself of love's explosive power,
she forgot that the depths of love lay beneath
the surface of the covered cavern of her heart.
The diamonds and the natural gases,
the riches of the spirit lay
in that place she kept locked for years.

She now sought the alchemic side of love;
putting down the chain mail,
shields and protective armor
she donned for centuries and lifetimes.

Resting aside the mallot and mace,
swords and spear,
the archer in her dropped the bows
and arrows that protected her heart.

She sought the magic,
the potions contained in the karmic script
her soul cast aside, reading the sutra scribed
on her spirit's tongue.

Achilles healing,
she locked her hair,
grew it to its natural length,
casted it off the side of the castle's tower
and scaled her own prison,
escaping her own dungeon,
holding up the executioner's guillotine
on her own,
she pulled rank on the soul bound
bullet of the firing squad, she was ready to love.