I fly below the equator
a boy kisses me 
while we dance.

We go back together
sleep in separate beds.
I do not let him in.

He starts the new day
telling his friends
that he’s had me
in ways he has not.

My heart bleeds
for the times
and the moments
I knelt in shame.
Begging the universe
to take from me
the impossible
polarity
of being a woman
in a world
where I must be 

Sexual
but conservative.

Beautiful
but subtle.

Audible
but silent.

Desirable
but chaste. 

He slapped my ass,
called me a good kisser.

My lips burned.

Not with lust,
but intuition 
that he would cause harm. 


And he did.