the transcontinental railroads
embedded with barbed wire on my skin
I hope you travel it one day
and cut the noose around my neck
and caress my persistent demons into hibernation

before my body decomposes
into nothing but meaningless flesh
and scarred bone
I want to spend a night
beside you
in the burning of an embrace
that is your reluctant arms
and jaded smile

severing life lines
strangling your ability to breathe
suffocating yourself with tainted air
and choking on your words
you will spill
hopefully beside me.