Flesh Under Ashes

You pin your hair

With a rusted cross

Lace at your throat

Like a quiet threat

Ink on your wrists

Spells out old psalms

You twist the words

Til they beg

You drag that candle

Down my chest

Wax finds hollows

Names each scar

Slow

Deliberate

Like you're filing teeth

You taste like flesh under ashes

Soft

Then cinder on my tongue

You pray in gasps against my shoulder

Asking what we've both begun

Flesh under ashes

Ruin wrapped in something warm

Hold me like a midnight sermon

Make me feel your mouth your scorn

You count my ribs

As if you're tithing

Your Mouth on each

Until I shake

Your laugh

Low

When I say "mercy"

You press my wrists

Into the dark oak floor

Stained-glass moon

On your bare back

Colors crawl

Over spine and bruise

You arch

You moan

Slow

Saint and sinner in one space

You taste like flesh under ashes

Soft

Then cinder on my tongue

You pray in gasps against my shoulder

Asking what we've both begun

Flesh under ashes

Ruin wrapped in something warm

Hold me like a midnight sermon

Make me feel your mouth your scorn

You make a chapel of the bedsheets

Altar from the hollow of my hip

Teeth trace vows along my thighs

Nothing holy in your grip

You say my name

Like breaking glass

Sharp

Dangerous

Falling into me

I answer

With the roughest blessing I own

Taking you as my own

The Madness in our game