Cogent Fears Poem by Glenn Fang

surrender used to be the safe word.
in this misshapen space, you still hear
the cacophony of old wars you had no part in
starting. danger feels perpetually
proximate; glad to see you've
the morphine that is indifference.
look away from the afterimage
if possible. you've been silent since
mispronouncing my name — this uneasy quiet
punctuated by the crinkle of candy wrappers,
revealing confectionery, their taste mis-
interpreted by my tongue
the same way it had misinterpreted yours
so kiss me again. similar wetness is felt
in areas of bleeding. associating
open wounds with rubies
gives a beautiful mental image,
makes more tolerable the
ugly situation, and mild
discomfort of arduous running
with shoes on the wrong feet
in search of new ways to be afraid.