Don't take off your clothes, 

But do it slowly.

Be careful to sit far away from me, 

but make sure the hairs of our skin brush

Don't kiss me,

Only make it last for while.

Don't touch me,

But place your hands underneath my skin.

And most of all don't love me,

but leave me when forever is done with us

This molten butter

soothes and hides

my open wounds -

feathered images

pressed in butter

poured onto me,

leaving oily trails

under my chin.

I recall all

your brushed words

of melted butter

which congealed

almost

before you left,

leaving me

with greasy crumbs

of vague regret.

My grandfather had acquired the nickname "Tuffy" at a young age. Through working as a stone mason all of his life, he had lived up to it. By the age of 16, he was already the size of a full-grown man.

A carnival had rolled into town and one of the featured attractions was the opportunity to win $10 by pinning the strong man in a wrestling match. Tuffy knew he could whup him.

He stripped off his shirt, put on some tights and climbed into the ring. The bell rang and Tuffy held his own for a little while, but suddenly the strongman began to put him in a series of submission holds that he was helpless against.

He told us, "This guy was strong, at one point he had me so goofed up I could barely breathe, much less move. I looked up gasping for air and I saw a set of balls hanging about a foot from my face."

Without hesitation, he reached up and grabbed them, twisting with everything he had. Unfortunately, they were his own. Tuffy lost the match.

I bring both pleasure and pain

My scent lingers long after I'm gone

You panic when I can't be found

I calm your nerves when you're stressed

You reach for me when you awake

Spending your last dollar for me

Your family disapproves

You know you shouldn't want me

We take long rides together

Have coffee and drinks

The ending to a perfect meal

Our relationship is unhealthy

It's harder to breathe when I'm around

Someday I might kill you

Slowly with a smile

Even on your deathbed you will want me

Now I'm forbidden

Goodbye

Snow.

Snow sounds softly

Serenely.

Snow-swept soil

Speaks silently

Splendidly.

Swans

Swim shallowly

Sleepily.

Silent.

Silent sorrows

Surrounded scene

Snow sounding softly.

Sad sands

Sail

Swiftly.

Subzero skywalk

Snores soot.

Snoozed sky

Summons something sleepy

Soon.

Slumped snow

Silky

Smooth

Surely spewed sadly.

Shipped sleet

Surfs

Sly.

Serendipity sounds sweet.

We regret to inform you,

You will no longer exist.

Your qualifications

Were deemed insufficient

The board determines

You became a threat

To our ideologies

Politicians

Profit.

Common good.

Your diploma in idealism

Is essentially worthless.

Creativity degree

Became a simple basic

You are no longer unique

You no longer surprise

Even if our cooperation

Will be remembered pleasantly

We snatched all we could

Now

It's time to leave the stage

Botox and scandals

Can save you no more.

The public is bored.

You're wasting their

Time=Money=Value

Dear art, we hope you

Accept the board's decision

Please pack your influence.

Regards, Capitalism.