skin is dry like lavender

I was busy watching the weathervane

hardly hearing a word he was saying

struck by the sudden observation

the that he has never touched me gently

his whole life

he cut through my thoughts like a sword

stinging citrus on his breath

his gloved hand wrapped around my wrist and his serpent tongue lulled me back to oblivion

we've lived out life out rough

worn leather jackets

protecting battle scars

I've spent nights

on the kitchen floor

for fear of climbing into bed

pineapple soap stinging

the way his clutch did

have you noticed

love is tougher than jerky

and sweeter than cream soda

but it's never quite what you expect

like drinking wine from beer bottles

and sitting on your own stoop

out in the cold

when he kicks you out of your own home

I'm trying to measure

the weight of the wind

to thread it through a needle

and embroider a hurricane

to take me away