# #control

5 poems

## [no](https://chromato.graphics/no)

do i have to belt you?  
to overcome a bubbling  
or are my words enough  
to staunch the flowing  
from leaking fountains

pleasure is never free,  
even when it is a gift.  
beg me with honeysuckle  
pollination. allergies.  
only believe in denial.

muscle tension, hunger.  
dew’s wetter than rain.  
desperate questions tie  
barricade tape tighter.  
no. a complete sentence

the longer we wait here  
clock hands move slowly  
waiting, praying on the  
dripping limestone tile  
a sacrifice in purpose.

release is for the weak  
but you are strong, no?  
every drop metered out.  
are you grasping at it?  
there isn’t a shortage.

don’t ask me again, now  
you know my answer love  
age years in the bottle  
our flavor concentrates  
only believe in denial.

## [use](https://chromato.graphics/use)

craving total transformation,  
identity a disposed wrapper.  
becoming a vessel for want,  
glass poured into, overfilled.

you haven’t been here lately.  
something in our combining  
always begins this reaction:  
photochemical excited state

learning how to spark again —  
days ago: gel, pumps, bulbs,  
rattling pill bottles and nerves,  
black gloves, gold foil, silicone.

it’s warmed up enough already.  
don’t ask or guess — just _know_.  
take a part you claim as yours,  
shape it to your pleasure. use.

time stutters; the gears grind  
forward under prying pressure.  
repairing hidden mechanisms,  
counting every beat yourself.

disappearing deconstruction:  
ripped apart by heat and light,  
shredded into a thousand tiny  
pieces of steel. shrapnel blast.

there is stillness in oblivion,  
peace made in the darkness.  
clenched fists, soaked linen.  
i swear. i won’t move. i can’t.

## [readwrite](https://chromato.graphics/readwrite)

have you ever  
had a girl cause  
engineering  
just for it, though

weeks of design  
on a one-off  
built for the thing —  
to program it

on the airplane  
commit to it:  
make it perfect,  
then install it

when you get there,  
show it slowly  
touch a curved shape  
feel its edges

unarchive it  
press it with force  
watch it open,  
animated

every app must  
have its settings  
even if they  
never vary

have you ever  
caused a toy to  
glow from within  
white light blinking

when you read it  
you can see it:  
why it matters,  
what you’ll put there

have you ever  
caused a thing to  
strip itself bare  
kernel panic!

this will only  
take a second,  
last a lifetime  
deep within you

type it all out  
hold it down now  
your domain, name  
hit the button

have you ever  
felt an object  
as it’s written  
becoming yours

## [steps](https://chromato.graphics/steps)

now please, sit back  
stretch out your legs  
relax awhile —  
furniture begs

pull off your boots  
i’ll kneel below  
slip off your socks  
and take it slow

bare both your soles  
flex all ten toes  
your footstool’s goal:  
to be repose

our arches meet —  
my back, your curve  
almost so much  
i don’t deserve

a faint perfume  
teases my nose  
the smoothest skin  
so rarely shows

i’ll work them deep  
with oiled hands  
their perfect forms  
each digit fanned

red lacquered nails  
command my eyes  
and higher heels  
you’ve made me buy

bare, they stay — no  
decoration  
focus trained on  
adoration

pressed on my face  
i’ll kiss you there  
and lick the base  
become ensnared

kick or trample  
i’ll take the pain  
with shoes sampled  
my body strains

pleads for pressure  
that space between —  
the greatest pleasure:  
touch from the queen

release the jewels  
that flood within  
wetness pools  
on shining skin

## [poke](https://chromato.graphics/poke)

door opens— am i the fool?  
gloves snap, now i’m playing my role  
unstained steel tray cradles your tools  
you wash me clean, i cede control

you sketch small leaves in purple ink  
i play with you, this is our game  
when it’s all done, what will they think?  
art, artist, work— all share a name

calmly you ask “_ready for stabs?_”  
there’s not a way for me to know  
is this your temple or your lab?  
we share one breath, it’s time to go

your sword and your eyes penetrate  
music and pain blanket my brain  
sometimes we should disregulate  
questions pour out, blood from a vein

hours pass as you make passes  
pricks turn into private pleasure  
when we are through, our flesh collapses  
every mark is made forever