Work Text:
One night,
At a lake reflecting the full moon,
The tinker gave the assassin
A delicate metalwork orchid,
Its vertices and angles designed to
Reflect the moonlight
Into miniature starbursts.
The assassin reached for the orchid,
And hesitated.
The tinker said to the assassin,
"This orchid is for you.
I don't fear to join with you.
Life is precious."
The assassin told the tinker,
"And we do not take it lightly.
This... should not be given to me.
How could any jungle orchid
Live a happy life
On the back of a desert scorpion?"
The tinker only told the assassin,
"Even scorpions deserve orchids."
The assassin took the orchid,
Smiled, blushed, and said,
"You are very brave."
The tinker took the assassin
Into his arms and said,
"And you are very beautiful."
Under the moonlight,
They kissed one another
Above a mutally clasped
Filigree silver orchid
Flickering like
The immortal stars
In the bower of heaven.