Heart of Gold

He saw its glow burning through her chest.

Its scent permeated her air;

Rich honeycomb and amber warmth

That drips from the tongue.

He knew he had found a rare treasure,

And he coveted it.

Day & night he wanted to bask in it;

Receive with vigor the radiance that warmed

With the soft heat of fire in winter

Slowly, slowly reaching into his bones.

He knew her heart was rare & precious

And he wanted more.

He wanted to see the source for himself

So he pried and he pried, until finally

Her chest cracked open to reveal his prize;

Her still-beating, golden heart

But it

Could not

Survive.