Fester by Haleigh Dixon

Burgundy talons peel at my supple flesh.
Commit yourself, my friend. You are welcome.

Bury yourself. Settle under my skin.
Corrode me, love, and fester.

Are you joy or agony?

Join hands.
Knock at the house that’s become my home.
You may stay.
I am weak to my folly.
Pretend to hate, though your hands are intertwined.
In my peripheral, I observe you.
Melt together, distort yourselves, until you are indistinguishable.

Steal my heart.
Room with our neighbor, Father Time.
Remain, even if Hope has died here.

Punish me.
Make me submit.
Freeze my chest cavity.
Force boulders between my joints.
Affix the muscles of my neck.
Slick my eyes and ligaments with oil.
My bones will crack in resistance to you.

There is no escape.
No beginning.
No ending.

Still, I will smile,
And let the lie punch through my teeth.
The cycle will continue.

Burgundy talons
Peel at my supple flesh
Be still, my heart.