lately
i haven’t been
as obsessed
with writing
poetry

instead
i have been
living it

pays the same
and i don’t
have to hide
behind metaphors

i think
i am tired
of hiding

i may not
see myself
but i can
identify
the epicenter
in this great
rippling wave
of devastation

my heartbeat
leaves designs
etched in the silt
calling out
in flashes of
hazel distortion
to summon the
jellyfish swarm
in a ballet of
delicious stings

less obsessed
with writing
the poetry
than running my
fingers gently
down its spine

i dip my
tongue into ink
and summon
the tempest on
your supple flesh

channeling
the words
to tattoo your
beautiful soul