as black satin sheets
at the bottom of my bed
spread tightly across
the four corners
and hung over the edge

Stretched
as salt water taffy
pulling the ribbons of azure
gold, red, purple and green
then cutting them clean into little clumps
that melt on the tongue
one by one

Stretched
as an elastic
wound around the finger
cutting off the circulation
and all sensation

Stretched
as on the rack
limbs tied with a rope
dislocating the joints
while the old man has a smoke