A Poem by James Mirarchi

U-turn

You held the embrace
too long this time
and my bodily camouflage
grew a second layer
A glamorous lining
that sweated clear fluids
instead of blood

You kissed
too long this time
and my skull
formed a second mask
The one of an executioner
which pricked with little spikes
sharper than my razor stubble

You promised
too long this time
and our candle-lit dinner
devolved into a trashy casserole
Addictive and harsh

You posed
too long this time
and the doorway
in which we stood
looking at each other
. . . broke apart into a sitcom universe . . .

James Mirarchi grew up in Queens, New York.  In addition to his poetry collections, Venison, Dervish, and Shards, he has written and directed short films which have played festivals.  His poems have appeared in several independent literary journals.