i wasn’t staring
longingly
into the abyss
i was remembering
the touch of your lips
to my throat
your breath
on my skin
as you bit
hard
to remind me
that love wasn’t always
a vase full
of wilted roses
or a half eaten
box of chocolates

you drew blood
because it brought me back
to the reality
that sometimes
we hurt the ones
we love
not only
out of anger
but in the throes
of desperate need
balancing
out the pleasure
with acts of pennance
sublimely
becoming
lover and jailor