Paisley

Branded

seared skin newly shorn
indelibly heat branded
mark sheep for slaughter

Nails

How many tempters must you have
so many suitors comprise the salve
you smear in wounds
of paradise lost
of star-crossed souls
of compounded costs
of tallying tolls
of crashing the gates
of wretched shoals
becalmed in the straights
of narrows
of nemesis
of nevers
of nativity
of needing
of nails
nails
nails.

The sleek lucky toe
broken not once but in two
sordid episodes.

Morning Sickness

Industry

Crucify