pandora

i).

unleashed all the sorrows and furies upon the world
not because of curiosity,

however feline she seemed
with those exotic, uptilted eyes that spoke of egypt and topaz sunset rivers
--and that honey-amber delighted purr;

(oh, that purr)

she was more like a sphinx
with the meaning of life at the back of her throat
and a riddle on the tip of her forked tongue.

(nevertheless, there was always a self-satisfied smirk fixed to her lips)

ii).

a paradox for the age:
in hushed tones, she told him she kept all her secrets in a small silver box
(that whispered in calligraphic script:

'handle with care')

but when his fingers slipped she only gave him an enigmatic smile

and showed him the glass fragments inside
glittering like dying constellations.

iii).

as a prelude, she put forth the inquiry (her injury):
'what have you just broken?'

(but he never quite knew how to tell the truth)