Venus meets a Zombie

The zombie walked out of the water;
nobody had taught her
she ought to wear a bikini,
or how to pose for the light.

Like Medusa from the old time;
hair plaited with seaweed and salt crust,
forbidden eyes as white
and round as pearls.

Like a fury;
or one of Jupiter’s ex’s
back for a visit,

like Lazarus risen
from a watery prison.

Venus waved, familiarly;
the lady charged.

True in the end
that after a
certain point,
in the dark

eyes can be narrowed,
hearts hardened, minds turned
people divided and set apart,

bad blood
corrupt the best of us.