ligature (collaboration with Cheryl)

ashes stitched
   legs tucked
       back bowed

           beaded neck
              pressed by
                 gloved hand

                  lips cold
                 thighs blaze
                ears crack

            nostrils flare
         hips hoist
     cervix shudders

"i can taste my teeth"

show-teeth
  animal odor
     burning penis
        no fear

         rubbed flesh
           fire eases
             out of anger
               driven rage

            enchantment
          death desire
        moving vigor
maximum arousal

"subjugation"

_________________________________________________ _____

good girls reward (inspired by Tiko) C.A.

in a fantasy,
ropes tighten
around strong thighs
curvy hips

like a piece of lace
criss crossing
on delicate leggings
 
good girl uses soft words
because hard ones
jerk her back to conviction

there's no need for a low curtsy
her bow is deep
knees a precise plié
 
private misdemeanors
don't allow chance-taking
 
cranky conscience
like a gear
reeling-in frazzled endings
by a mere thread
 
His offer to hold her hand
is more than a gesture
soothing
her tired feet
as well

_________________________________________________ ___________

a change of pace (for C.A) by tiko

a bite
a slight bite
on the inside
of your elbow

a scratch on the
outside of your
thigh

a stretch
a yawning stretch
in your hips


knees back
                 back
                      further

now we can
dance

_________________________________________________ ____

remembering how (by Cheryl)

it seems hard
waiting to dance

where's the dancer now?

if tried again
would I remember how?

when is the bow and fall
from the choices made?

no one tells me
what to do

hard to dance the right dance
listening for familiar tapping
the tick-tocking of chimes

I remember how
________________________________________

instructions for remembering how

remove the
shards from
your hands
your neck
your torso
your ears

soothe with
the warmed
wax of
bees

and decanted
wine

feel the
dance
pull

through your
loins
and fingers

the dimples
in your
hind

slide
slide
slide

into the
dance

written by ~tiko~
________________________________________

Decanting by Cheryl

older, red wine needs decanting
so does a woman
if she is older

sediment, grape skins, enzymes
need to settle to the bottom
of the decanter, then you
pour from the top layer

a woman needs to settle
then you may have her very best

can see why decanted wine
is good for a bruised soul
it's pure and it breathes

dance near flames  by Cheryl

in a dance near flames
they are dark and light

with closed eyes
she leans sideways
into his palm

orange fire crackles
between them

something is burning it's way through
like a firefly handed to an audience,
                                   here, look

it won't die between cupped palms
there will be more than a husk of
something bright and shining

in darkness above fire
breath is clear and white

revised expectations by tiko

it’s just a fuck

no special rituals
required

no different
than a new
tattoo or
piercing

expect
pain and
purple and
ribbons
and steel

no rituals
no flowers
no smoke

just a fuck

that first tattoo
you grease it up
you keep it clean
you show it off

the latest though
you're hiding
underneath
your trousers

like it might
get out and
make the
kitchen dirty

you could've told me 'it' was just a fuck
before you screwed me
you asshole

just because you're too ignorant to handle it right
doesn't mean I am

never did like your tatoos
and the fact you pierced your tongue
didn't do a thing for me
either

listen,
i have to go eat some
baloney and eggs now
but when i get back
i'm going to tell you
what i really think

good

you can tell us if baloney
and eggs taste better than crow

that you're going to have to
ask lance armstrong about

who's
lance
armstrong?

that you're going to have to
ask sheryl about

---

call me an angel
call me a whore

I'll paint myself
all over you

my stains roar

fuck rituals
give me wicked heat
on purple flesh

be my puppet
dance with me
I play free for show

incise your shadows
curdle your dignity
dare you exit your closet

---

---

all this time
all we've been through
one would think
you could at least
spell my name

but no
you turn to other women
sounding the same

---

do you dare
to enter
my closet

butter makes it better

my dear madam

it seems you've
confused
me with my
representative

the one with
pockets full
of butter

ready
to lather it
into an obliging
ear so the
lies
will go
down
down
down
into the lining
of your panties
to grease
loose
that chain of
chastity
your mother
installed some
years ago


if you
choose to
receive my
calls again

be advised

the butter is
salted

the wine is
corked

don't
bring a shawl

bring tricks
---- lots of tricks

and extra
batteries

my dear sir,
you have outdone yourself,
a chipmunk chattering
as if a squirrel.

if you want butter
in your pockets,
I suggest you
start pounding
some milk.