A Labyrinth

It only takes a few times burned,
to learn to be scared of the fire,
back away into cold darkness,
learn to live with the damp chill.

But the light calls out,
it beckons,
it dances,
it crackles,
it laughs,
pulls close,
only to illuminate scars.

Scars carved into tanned grape skin,
scars wished for,
so to never forget him,
him,
him,
hims.

A spark lights the scene around me,
only to strike me in the face,
a kiss,
pockmarked,
into my forehead.
The mark of Cain,
who is not able,
to love without fear.

Your smile is so warm dear,
but I am afraid of the burn,
terrified of the bite.
There will not be another scar,
I have no more room,
for lines and marks,
left by flames of the past.

So promise me you are safe dear,
promise me you’ll keep me warm dear,
promise me you won’t bite dear,
promise me you won’t burn dear.

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The end of a long day sounds like,
a clasp popping,
elastic retreating,
a sigh,
a heaving chest,
finally released from solitary confinement
where each half was separated from its partner.
All that support,
gets exhausting,
and there is relief to be had,
in letting it all hang out.

There goes the tight waist defining belt,
and the dangly heavy-on-the-ears jewelry.
Makeup rubbed and smudged but not yet washed.
There goes the patterned tights,
and the pencil skirt with the slit drops to the floor.
In the future it will have to be ironed.

Not sexy nude,
but banal naked.
Natural and tired,
finding comfort robed in fleece.
Sleep will come soon,
but first an hour or so,
of pre-bed time,
unclothed peace.

Artwork by: Yulia Frydin

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