SIREN
Photography Lara Schless
Creative Direction Sinah Griessler and Luis Steigleder
Talent, Styling and Text Sinah Griessler
Fashion Design Luis Steigleder
COUNTING THE STEPS FROM THE CHURCH
DOWN TO MY WATER EVERY TIME THEY DESCEND.
YOU CAN HEAR THE BELLS TOLLING EVEN FROM AFAR,
A METALLIC ECHO IN THE HARBOR WALLS
TWELVE LEGS DANGLING INTO THE WATER, THEIR NAKED,OILED BODIES SCREECHING AS THEY SLICE INTO THE DEEP.
AROUND THEM A SHIMMERING CIRCLE FLOATS ON THE SKIN OF THE LAKE.
THEY SWIM ONLY AS FAR AS THE CHURCH STILL HOLDS THEM IN SIGHT.
NO ONE DARES FURTHER AND NO ONE DARES INSIDE THE CHURCH.
AT NIGHT THEY SIT ON THE STEPS, SMOKING, DRINKING, GOSSIPING.
DEAD FISH DRIFTING IN THE HARBOR,
FIG TREES LINE THE ROADSIDE, THEIR CRUSHED FRUIT LIKE ROADKILL THE SWEET ROT OF FERMENTED PULP ON HOT ASPHALT.
A SMALL GRAVEYARD WITH MORE GRAVES THAN SOULS LEFT IN THIS TOWN.
A STORM RISES, AND ALL THE BOATS FLEE LIKE A SWARM OF FIREFLIES FROM ONE SHORE TO THE OTHER.
WAVES BEATING THE HARBOR WALL,
MOSS AND SALT IN THE LUNGS.
EVERYTHING FOLLOWS ITS COURSE.
LAP AFTER LAP THEY SWIM,
EVERY SUNDAY THE CHURCH SCREAMS. A CHOIR SINGS.
THEY PICK BLACKBERRIES FROM THE BUSHES.
TWELVE CUPS OF COFFEE EVERY MORNING,
TWELVE GLASSES OF WINE EVERY NIGHT.
TWELVE TIMES THE CHURCH BELLS RING.
