snaps her panty band
against her hip
a thoughtless reflex
in her dressing movements
she steps to her dress

buy why so loud a snap
the band held taut
before the snap

still in bed
he questions this
hugs empty sheets to bury that
flesh colored band
snapped against paler skin

he turns his back on her
turns
to the rippling layers of silk
and flimsy hints
of internalized woman
beyond flesh and blemish
a faceless thought
a formless but exciting
sum
that he thought she would be

lingering snap
like a snap on his back
it was snapped against
the disillusioning whiteness of skin

and he turns to her
with eyes half closed
and sees the sacrificial virgin
burning in cold flames
searing her secret beyond touch
and beyond grasp
and beyond the self-taunting leer

what she is