When we began I was cold,
stiff-stiff, stone. No key crafted
well enough to turn open, no
flames high or wide enough to melt, no
breath of a wolf strong enough to blow
down, shake, or crumble my guard.
His candies and cards came
and I gave

Man.
To be served,
in comfort,
kissed down,
because it keeps him.
Many lessons females learn
like how to receive the

I feel as though the
days that pass
do so to tease me. I remember
the way you looked at me-
sex, need in your eyes. Sex.
The best sex. Love gave
tight hugs, thorough, deep

Bang! Bang!
Uncle scooped us up and
out our beds, covered our
heads with his body as he
hunched over us, us scared down
to the wooden floor, which we
knew too well by the time we were

From a distance I see a light
reflecting off the glass door of
my building. As I get closer, I
see that it is just a bike light
and become less curious. But
as I walk through the door, in
front of the rider I see the three

Green. moving. up.
My heart rate is
up. He laughs, I smile.
Gifts. Nothing’s like
two sweaty fronts as
he eases it up, in. Deep
in. Go.
A night in-films, teasing touches.
I laugh, he smiles.
Yellow. Yellow gleam from
melting candles. Steam
from rubbing, yanking, twisting.
I scream I love you- like
red love you.
Red.
It is morning. He is leaving.
Says he’ll call me tomorrow.
He calls me everyday.
Tomorrow was three days ago.
My doorbell rings. I open it.
A note that says goodbye.
It must have been the candles.

I Can

Sexy, tender, taken man that my
eyes cannot believe, my wrinkled,
tired fan has not begun to relieve
me of the heat that has transpired
from the rush from your
scent, imagined touch, ooh I

Onto the train with gum-
stamped floors, poles
polished in sweat then
finished off with boogers-
all forgotten when the
echoing sound of wheel to
track played, introduced

First Drum

Lying on my back, I am
gazing at the second
hand-it hits one minute.
Shit!
A huff escapes my
mouth, only to be interrupted
by puckered lips pressed

prompt: just a little bit

Years of digging, picking,
putting up with the
sting and everlasting scars
from the slap of whip to
black backs, images of heads
being ripped from their bodies,

My boyfriend broke up with me yesterday,
and yes, I cried. Flashbacks
of trips and dinners, and
romantic settings. The sex was
good and so such scenes played in my
mind, repeatedly. I was
so stuck on his eyes, the way they

Two Years

Two years and the
ups and downs made it
two long years.
At a point now where
opinions do not matter
and nothing compares

I want to
forget what it’s like to
need closeness; comfort from a
light embrace as we lay,
your body behind mine;
the convenience of the
New York City blocks, which
led me to you in no time,
kissing you in no time;
the moments when I
reached for you via telephone
because I could get to you
quicker.
Quickly, I need some relocation-
to take my mind anywhere else
for a long while-hours on
anyone else. Used to hate to
blink from daydreams- they
took me away from you.
I want to walk along a
boardwalk now, surround
myself with physical differences
that equally interest me.
My heart has
gotten too strong in its
grip
on you.
You’re everywhere
and I don’t know that it’s
the same for you.