dark. you turn, restless, in your
sleep. shh. shh. settle.
leaves. your hair drinking the dew,
eyes full of embers.
darling, you worship like gold
lain on the altar.
he kneels slow. reverent. oh,
sweetheart. my best boy.
anvil something takes shape strike
by strike. yes. like that.
stars wave after wave after
endless gasping wave
it hurts more than i'd have thought—
your averted gaze.
moment like a breath held for
time outside of mind
run. now, my laurels, please. and
run me my money.
of the lash. intractable.
one more time. one more.
feast. your ivory shoulder
so hard and so cold.
cinematic arc of my
fall, heedless, for you
hypoxia half a breath
away. please—don't—stop—
justice, left her sightless, cold,
and robbed of her scales
game to see how many times
i can slip the noose
compulsion to see if faith
can turn fall to flight
ink-black beneath the washy
lights. can't win 'em all.
scornful grin. death mocks me, pinned
gasping beneath him.
to the table. now read the
void between my words.
thighs—the scent of you lingers,
will not let go.
hunted. capture? no. i will
take the other choice.
sobbing. a breeze fainter than
breath stirs the curtains.
our freed breaths shearing into
gleaming fractals