black and blue

I bruise easily

especially from harsh fingertips

pressing into soft skin

and hungry eyes

looking for places

to push into

 

I was taught to expect

people to leave a mark or two

I always thought it was supposed to hurt

 

and I used to think

anything under 50 degrees

was freezing

but I’ve never felt anything cooler

than your eyes fixed on mine

angry,

what did I do this time

 

so I’ll let you bruise me

black and blue 

if it means

I can feel warmth

radiating under your fingertips

instead of icy glares

stinging against my skin

like the coldest california winter

 

sometimes I think I like the pressure

hurts so good

like when you grab a peach to make sure it’s ripe

 

maybe that’s why I don’t mind hurting

because even when it’s a dull ache

you’re still feeling

 

maybe someday

I’ll learn to like the feeling of

silk instead of steel

and I won’t leave empty spaces

waiting for them to turn

black and blue