OF HAIR
A NOISE FROM BEHIND INFORMED ME I WASN'T ALONE
A BUMP AND A NOISE IN THE DARK
WHEN THE SHADOWS SIGHED I FROZE
WHEN THE BED CREAKED
I STRUGGLED TO REMEMBER PRAYERS
INSTEAD I RECALLED GOD'S PREVIOUS SILENCES
WHICH REMINDED ME NOT TO CALL HIM
ONLY IN TIMES OF DESPERATION
FEELING THE MATTRESS SHIFT
MY OUT OF CONTROL HEART RACED
TOWARD SOMETHING DARK AND UNSEEN
RATIONAL FEAR REPLACED RATIONAL THOUGHT
BREATHING SOUNDS FAMILIAR AS DREAMING LIMPED THROUGH SURROUNDING SHADOWS
NOT FAR OFF
SOMETHING LARGE LEAPED UPON MY NAKED CHEST
IMPALING ME TO THE BED WITH WILD SLAPPING AND GROWLING
AND SHARP CLAWS PULSING AT MY FLESH
MY EYELIDS SEALED
MY ARMS SAGGED USELESS BY MY SIDES
MY SKIN TINGLED
A SPLATTER OF SOMETHING COLD HIT MY CHEEK
AND AGAIN AND AGAIN THEN MORE ALL AT ONCE
I RISKED A QUICK LOOK
MY FACE WAS IN A SHORT TUNNEL STAVED WITH BLACK KNOTTED ROPES
CONTINUOUSLY DRIPPING
WETNESS SLUICED DOWN EVERY WRINKLE AND INTO MY EYES
MY MARINADING EMOTIONS SOFTENED
THE WATER IN MY MOUTH HELD THE BITTER TASTE OF SOAP
A LARGE DAMP MASS ADJUSTED ITSELF AROUND MY WAIST
WITH MORE SLAPS AND SOFT SOUNDS OF SUCTION
I PASSIVELY YIELD TO EVERYTHING
WATCHING A ZILLION KNOTS OF SODDEN BOUNCY CURLS AND
BUBBLY CRINKLES OF SPLIT-ENDED COILS
DRAIN
A VILLAINOUS SMILE PRECEDED A WHIPPING MOTION
AIMED TO TEACH MY DEFENSELESS HEAD A VALUABLE LESSON
I AM POWERLESS TO DEFLECT THIS PEDAGOGICAL FLAGELLATION
WHICH LEAVES ME BREATHLESS
WANTING TO LEARN AND LEARN MORE
SOON I AM DRIPPING WITH KNOWLEDGE
I ACCEPT HELPLESSLY A SHADOW CLOSING LIKE A SILO DOOR
CLAIMING MY IGNORANT FACE
"YES."
I ACQUIESCED, " YES, MA'AM"