After the Poison
by Collin Kelley
I've measured out our time together
sealed it in airtight bottles
the one labeled 1998 kept close
like smelling salts
One whiff a camphor waking me
making me high on the idea of us
putting blinders on your infidelities
double vodkas and damaging words
And when that isn't enough
I open a vein and plunge in
mainlining good memories
to blot out your monstrosity
I eke you out in little doses
slipstreaming to before the bad
when your hand resting
on the small of my back was enough
It's the way I keep from overdosing
the way I keep you human
Worth the read. Great closing couplet.
"I open a vein and plunge in
mainlining good memories
to blot out your monstrosity". Strong.
***
What Adam said, what Kitty said, and what Gary did: ***
Great strong writing. *
These lines: "It's the way I keep from overdosing
the way I keep you human"
A powerful moment in the poem, Collin. I like.