That Way Madness Lies: XV of Shakespeare's Most Notable Works Reimagined

by Dahlia Adler

But silence does not come. A new song becomes heir to the one before. It sounds as I would imagine the call of mermaids, high and clear as the rarest bird. The first glint in the sky seems a falling star. Then another, and another after. Narciso and I are still, hands paused on each other’s waists. With their descent, each falling star comes closer, each a moonbeam forged into a rod of silver. The bright head of each grows glinting edges. Not falling stars. Arrows. It is a rain of Cupid’s arrows. We recognize them by their gleam, as much light as metal, and for this, I do not fear them. The most harm they will do is give my heart to this boy and his brown hands. I find Narciso’s eyes, set within the half mask of amber leaves. He is steady as the glass of a pond. He gives only a slight nod of his head, as though a falling sky sows no fear in him.