A film of smoke descended on the world
The colors bled beneath its chilling heat
As bloodred carpet languidly unfurled
To guide the bitter fox along the street
His teeth just parted, breathing vaguely sweet
Each pawstep brought the velvet back its hue
Tracked purple prints and dripped the stain anew
The voice of Merrasir was distant wind
Which Khazemil felt rushing on his fur
White sky, black lines, the strange illusion thinned
Soft silence standing at the carpet's blur
Light fragrance as of ambergris and myrrh
Khazemil felt the scorching on his face
His eyes like sparks alit upon the space
"Why have you led me here? The ruined home
Belongs to none but nature in decay!"
No answer broke the opalescent gloam
But Khazemil observed a moonbeam stray
And glint on taisir buried in the clay
Two pieces; one a lattice ankle-wrap
Beside a feather-pattern knife, the trap
Entranced by death he donned the sacred ware
The feather-blade was light between his pads
Then turning, Khazemil beheld a tear
"Each glimpse I have behind the smokescreen adds
A harmony to half-buried triads!
And now the curtain-walls are pulled aside
I see a brighter sun at eventide!"
"O Khazemil! You ran, and I could not;
The hunger, strife, and sadness crippled me,
But by whatever foul spell you're caught,
Those burning eyes have told you where to flee
To leave a boyish dog with nobody.
I walked ahead, your steps a lullaby —
And now in silent sorrow onward I."
"He falters in your absence, Khazemil."
The blade projected darkness in the dross
The fox leapt fast upon the windowsill
Glanced once in blindness back to wasted loss
The fine and toppled furniture in moss
"My guest of honor, listen to me well!
This boon is from an undeserving shell."
Khazemil slid to weigh on all four paws
"The dogs entombed what they could not endure!"
The knife light-glinting, clamped between his jaws
"Their parapets, their metal, solemn, pure —
Despoiling my dominion premature."
No scent arose from Khazemil in shade
His muted movements low and unafraid
❦