Cherry fabric dripping down, cascading past the knee,

exposing a fleshy shadow, limbless-immobile.

A molasses stare slowly strolling over my fear.

Exercising those whose memories were denied into disbelief.

Serenity from its licorice perch judging –

Scoring a lifetime of lies that grew wings.

Each piercing flesh as inoculations for a fevered mind.

My desperately still physician – and jailer.