The Marriage of Beauty and Beast 

Paddle to skylight.  It opens each night —

imbues moonlit waters artificial

light.  Chandelier constellation to tie 

up your own crystal boat — interstitial

ritual, stories afloat.   Misfortunes forgot, 

as you focus — his face obscured by book,

descending tray of bud vase, a teapot 

of milk, pastel petit fours.  Listen, look 

then taste what is yours.  The tales alternate 

between sea beasts and beautiful girls. He 

comprehends you are of two worlds.  Sates

girl and the gills, benthic, in between

with floating fairytales, moveable feasts —

you are the marriage of beauty and beast. 

Kristin Garth is a Pushcart, Best of the Net & Rhysling nominated sonnet stalker. Her sonnets have stalked journals like Glass, Yes, Five:2:One, Luna Luna and more. She is the author of seventeen books of poetry including Pink Plastic House  (Maverick Duck Press), Crow Carriage (The Hedgehog Poetry Press), Flutter: Southern Gothic Fever Dream (TwistiT Press), The Meadow (APEP Publications) and Golden Ticket from Roaring Junior Press.  She is the founder of Pink Plastic House a tiny journal and co-founder of Performance Anxiety, an online poetry reading series. Follow her on Twitter:  (@lolaandjolie) and her website kristingarth.com