Fear paint

if
fear were
a clean cloak,
i’m over-worn
it’s over. i won.
i write of sweaty palms
feet in a fit with slit throat
jitters, rings of water heaters
loud stutters and lethal heartbeats
i can, i can’t dare do this
until nights of hubris
with will so foolish
the curtain falls
under me
one more
time

leonell