.
A woman who was beautiful
one day
removed her face
her head became smooth
blind and deaf
safe from the snares of mirrors
and from looks of love
amid the reeds of the sun
her head hatched by a sparrowhawk
could not be found
secrets much more beautiful
for not having been said
words not written
steps erased
nameless ashes flown away
without marble plaque
desecrating memory
so many wings to break
before nightfall.
~ Alice (Rahon) Paalen
painting of Alice by her husband Wolfgang Paalen
with thanks to leda-swanson
