Make Me Wear My Pain As A Gift

A Poetic Demand

My Photo

Your breath is a tide
compromises Christmas morning
that sort of joy given only
to childhood and how
your body entering a door

causes mouth to salivate
think of your work uniform

stripping
hearing belt clink
using it against skin

brand me with red
then watch as it turns

blue, purple, green
mixture of rainbow
on the canvas that you
get to paint with sweat

bite of pain
taste my sighs
in your brain as I give in

always giving in to the wonder
of your hand
beating to the beat
only you know

we know
brand me.

Make me wear your handprint
as ownership
bruise my shoulder
with your teeth