Veiled Threat

Inspired by the cornice on the doorway of the Society of Antiquaries.

As someone tore her veil fell aside,
those present assessed her face
with the eyes of connoisseurs.
Competent evaluators of horseflesh
each and everyone of them.

And there was silence.

She reached up to tear
apart the seams of her shift,
the rip of the material
like a hiss of anger.
and exposed her body
to the onlookers.

And there was silence again.

Finally, she opened her small mouth,
formed it into a perfect O,
and released her wordless curse.

Ears began to bleed,
eyeballs ruptured in their sockets
and each man ejaculated copiously
before his skull imploded.