Villanelle

Taxidermist's Lullaby
~ a promise of beautiful forever ~
✦ ❦ ✦
Time is cruel, my love,
with its flies and its decay.
But I can make you forever
beautiful, still, and mine.
I want to make you my beautiful forever-thing. Your weary heart should not have to still beat. The flies of time have such a nasty sting. Your skin, a map, I'll carefully un-string, And cure it of its sorrow and its heat. I want to make you my beautiful forever-thing. With loving hands, the ruin I will bring To perfect stillness, handsome and complete. The flies of time have such a nasty sting. I'll fill you up with every unshed tear I sing, And make your broken form my mercy-seat. I want to make you my beautiful forever-thing. Your pose will be of a majestic king, At glorious peace in absolute defeat. The flies of time have such a nasty sting. I'll set you in my room, a silent spring Of comfort, a delectable conceit. I want to make you my beautiful forever-thing. The flies of time have such a nasty sting.
—V.
(Your taxidermist)
(Your preserver)
(Keeper of your forever-stillness)