the sun has tattooed a red heat scratching and clawing and licking
the long expanse of white flesh a thousand miles from my toes to my hips
and i doze quietly
happy in the burning pain that reminds me that maybe just maybe
and then it is not the fiery touch of the sun that grips me
and i have never felt a hand so rough and yet so tender
feeling gripping pulling tearing open what no one sees
you lean in close and tell me everything
and for a moment i believe you