Shafted
“Do you love me?”
Your automatic reaction —
breathing accelerates
heart races
performance stalls mid-stroke
It’s a shock, a signal you’re not geared for this
I’ve tried to gauge the space I’ve now put between us
we’re skintoskin, but you turn aside
hooded eyes, muffled voice
“It’s just fun, ya know, a wild ride…”
Somewhere along the road, we’ve lost traction.
I could clutch at the remnants of affection
but I’m too exhausted to make the attempt.
Come run me over with love, any love
ignite my passion, fuel my despair
treadmark my soul with careless, idle words
I should have known with you there’d be no safe stopping distance.
You’ll leave me flat.
Rebecca Clifford has had works appear in Canadian and British anthologies and e-zines. Five of her poems have been set to music by Canadian composers, and she has had children’s picture book stories nationally longlisted. Rebecca lives on a small farm with her partner and a cat.