Fingertips On My Back. Poem by Kim Dang

I can feel your fingertips pushing
Causing a catalyst, peripheral transduction
My merkel's discs mechanorecepting
My brain registering all these senses
through afferent nerve endings

But it's not pain that I'm feeling, it's pressure
You're going so deep, reaching my ruffini's ending.
The increasing size of your palm's surface area
Each ten locations slowly growing harder.

There's support in your appendage's thrust
A consistent gentleness, your energy challenges
me to brinks of reciprocation. to a mental elevation
I've yet to recognize as further stimulation
And still fulfilling leftover carnal needs like a sidedish,
like it's not even part of the package; it's just the bonus.

Serendipity reached down into her deepest pockets
to churn out our meeting.
And it's matching, obscurity would be thrown about unabashedly
but you're answering.
You'd entertain my whims without me asking.
No matter how far this rabbit hole goes, you're plummeting.

A contagious bravery because you're so porcelain
A hand full of band aids comprise your offering.
Chances to outrun influences of trivial opinions
involving hearsay
Warm chicken soup delivery on ill days.

My clothes ripped by this whirlwind, you'd engage in
the most rooted vulnerabilities. Nothing would be too much to discuss
I'm left ragged from your guerrilla techniques, but my stamina won't give up.
I'll keep haggling to maintain this unexpected rendition of Happy.
I'll follow my daring itinerary with a ridiculously uncharacteristic proposal like -
'If you'll have me.'