Under the cover of night he slips in

married slaves rarely saw each other by daylight

rutting in darkness

they memorize the contours of the eyes

the pulsating warmth just below the skin

he nuzzles in

to distract from the pain

rain comes

cloaked in wet blankets

to steal my energy

but i don’t want to sleep

i want to see what mysteries he’s keeping

what frustrations he’s brought

beneath the mask of calm

what havoc he hath wrought

before he bites down

the pressure ripe to explode soon

from the surrounding flames

i turn to douse the

fire’s night amid the moonlight

as he creeps away cursing

a bleeding heart he leaves behind

hoping one day

I’ll give him mine.