acidic syllablesdripping icilyfrom a tongue forkedby time’s bladeyears of ill-intentmonths of malicedays spent reminiscinga daily discretion that wasinternalised hatredoozing outwardlythrough scarred skindamaged by merciful touchgrowing wildfireengulfing the heartsuffocating flamesa being burnt alive

Extensive understanding of existence is an unrestricted limitation.

Mother,                    His father, too, was a sailor. On a ship as black as death but it never cast a shadow. He will sail after we are to be wed. Sister,                    I watch. He cuts. In steel: curves that swell with your breathing breast. I dare say he thinks your expanse is his to tame. Lover,                   You have held me in the rolling sea mist— through the fractures in the...