Jody Zolli

I waltz slowly, eyes closed
Practicing the arcane art
Of soft self-poison

Concocting belladonna visions
Of you with her, her, her
As sunrise reveals
The remnants of us

Air stagnant, sulfurous, constricting
I inhale sharply, absolved
Of power, privilege, will

Cold marble, I implore myself
To freeze, unfeeling
Unable to serve, to scream
To be subsumed

Enchantment passed
Our cocoon transformed
A wracking web of acid taffy

Reminded again
That love sports a lopsided grin
Revealing pocked teeth
That look suspiciously
Like loaded dice