# #pain

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.

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

half decade wishes:  
a leveling out.  
forbidden kisses  
the right choice, no doubt

central park consult  
king cole martini  
review old results  
discard bikinis

photograph the curves  
archives in high gloss  
the things i preserve,  
they’ll surely just toss

day before phone calls  
rage at the system  
its stops, starts, & stalls  
need to assist him

sleep, holding a heart  
cleanse every surface  
wrong name on the chart  
_of course you deserve this_

wave as the doors close  
_don’t use the “b” word_  
eat eggs as you doze  
the artwork looks blurred

a husband’s phone rings  
let me inside there  
treat you like a king  
hold cups as your care

bumpy ride that night  
late rooftop phone call  
two beams of bright light  
never forget fall

a week goes by fast  
managing your pain  
see yourself at last  
straight scars and no drain

i cry more than you do  
it hits me deeply  
this thing that you choose  
didn’t come cheaply

a body transformed  
like overnight oats  
years since your plans formed  
i’ll keep taking notes

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

the black bottle kept  
just out of reach  
of those who fear  
my obsidian liquid

a toxicology report:  
deadly in large doses  
but taken with care  
the hurting heals us

sure, share a nightcap  
wince with me in pain  
we need this to sting  
no easier, knowing it

small sips are sweet  
deeper drinks, bitter  
stone fruit can’t mask  
a burning this intense

scared to let you see  
me like this — red eyes  
pierce pewter framing  
you want, no, need to

as the spirit fully hits  
there’s no stopping this  
            _drink._  
the cork is broken now

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

twentysomething object  
built to take a beating—  
recording blurry scenes  
to wound cassette tapes.

humming with precision  
opening up when pressed  
her red button worndown  
by many careless owners.

secondhand machine with  
new ways of seeing inside  
freezing a frame when it  
can’t take this much in…

an observation device for  
triangular dynamics that  
separate signal and static  
projecting what is actual.

a new lease on life from  
repairs to its internals,  
charging, maintenance, &  
importantly: regular use.

## [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