You Know Me as Medusa

My eyes burn with a golden glow

and another sword clangs.

They were begged to stay away, but alas,

once more, I retract my fangs.

Again and again, they’d come, the stench

of their efforts drowning my nose,

but today my heart thunders, my breath

catches, and time itself slows.

I expect this from them, the epitome of

the foolish who deem themselves men,

but you, you chose the same death as you

charged me in my den.

You ignored the screaming statues that

warned you stay away,

then were hopelessly stunned when you,

too, were choked in gray.

I couldn’t look away, I couldn’t protect

you from my damning stare.

Now until you erode to nothingness,

you’ll always be standing there.

This stone complexion doesn’t suit you, nor

your once warm, fuzzied face. You

never should’ve come to this dark,

crumbling, forsaken place.

Tears bleed down cold-blooded cheeks as

my claw strokes those lips I’ll miss.

I may be a monster, a beauty turned vile,

but I’ll never forget your kiss.