Blood Orange

Burn me with your stare. Bore through me
with a penetrative gaze.
Set me aflame.
Burn away the impurities, the onion paper,
the adapted barriers.
Warm me from within. Light the seat
of my soul. I’m in heat.
I’m rising rapidly. Let the gasses expand.
I am inflammable. Nurse the flame —
blow gently, coax me with billows.
Squat over me and wave cardboard
across my body.

Aspirate me. Help me to breathe. I’m hot —
my bodies are excited. Vibrate me
into another state. The build up is the best part.
Don’t let up yet.
Vigorously now. Fan me faster. Beat me
into submission. Train me. I’ll respond
to your call.

Don’t smother me. You’re losing it.
Faster — your hand is lagging. Are you sweating
from the effort or the excised heat?
You blinked.

You had me — you were close. The chinks
are sealing. The seams are disappearing.
You burned me just enough so I could heal.
I was pliable. I was ready.
Crumble in your hands.
Melt before you. You couldn’t bear —
you couldn’t stand it.

Why were you afraid of my light? You sought without knowing.
You couldn’t take it. So you retreated.
Slowly, your energy sloped off. Oh, you tried
to look but you couldn’t see.
On went my kimono as I rose to room temp.