breathless, you reach out to touch me
the flat of your hand, stinging
my cheek red, face bloodied by the
casual cruelty of love
the razor bite of your tenderness
the scars from your fearful anger
all i harbor upon me with loathing
yet at the same time a terrible gift
that you honor me with your presence
and so, breathless, i lean into your touch
flinching away in the next moment
for i am weaker than you would have me be
but i will endure this and bloom
into the flashing brightness of crimson rose