Once she was tender, soft skin, soft heart, milk br Of human kindness pouring from her veins; br What caused her heart to freeze? Her gown of silk br Petrified lava, her birthing pains br Ceased with her stillborn babies stiffly lying br On the stone table, cast off, done, br Sprawled flat and useless waiting for a sighing br Never heard, for she had seen her sons br Born from her bleeding womb, then the scream br She should have hurled choked in her throat; br No sound, no tear, no color, just a gleam br Icicle sharp came into her eye and heart br And all her thoughts scattered, reflecting br The candle light, pieces of eight, dollars, rings of gold, br Bracelets of silver, diamonds glittering br Crowns shining and thrones beckoning br A new sense, new thrill with no reckoning, br Platinum ambition, dagger, orb.