Chichen Itza
we slipped through a chain-link fence
as the bus sped off up a tunnel of night
one floodlight spliced the dark
a dog barked sharp
there was no going back
we crossed into woods beyond
startled awake, or was it a dream
tap tapping rain, tropical sweat
hunted prey on the ground
the dog, peering down
the dog,
the dog.
no questions asked
leading us astray
over damp silent grass
on invisible string we followed the dog
to a looming ladder of stone
into a void of sky
at the top the dog disappeared
we were held captive
ravished
speechless
spreadeagled before dawn
until dark drained away like blood dried cold
a symphonic mist rose
to purify the day
hours later, concealed in the trees
we woke again
emerging as tourists,
demigods in disguise
Diana Milia, 2023