11.

He dreamed of conquering the world.
He told her his plan. He would
arrange everything.
But when he was in charge
He would be at risk of getting bored
So she would have to be there too.

She said she didn't want to rule the world.
He said then, of course, he would have to enslave her,
Make her play war games,
Keep him on his toes.
She said that she wouldn't play.

He holds her on the afternoon of his wedding
in the doorway of his bedroom
in a tall white beachhouse
She is trembling, about to spill over.
He uses his thumbs to wipe the tears from her eyes.
Once, he held her in a white nightgown
She was brimming
one shift of his hand
she would have melted into him

She has just watched him marry someone else.
Now he is holding her like this,
wiping her tears away like that.
One shift of his hand.

She stares straight into him
Her eyes big round mirrors
His new wife steps into the room.