Darling, I Always Leave a Mark

Darling, I Always Leave a Mark

Hard-Hearted Villanelle

You like it when I hurt you in the dark. 
Hot wax, sharp slap, blindfold, belt and bite.
I’m good at being bad. I play the part
of angry boss, disgusted teacher, hard-
hearted lover. You live to lose the fight.
You like it. When I hurt you in the dark,
I’m careful not to touch your gnarled scar
too tenderly. I rarely stay the night. 
I’m good at being bad, except the part
that comes after the pleasure fits and starts
to fade, when you turn on the light.
You like it when I hurt you in the dark
and I like leaving, but leaving a mark.
All my recurring dreams are dreams of flight.
I’m bad at being good, I mean the part
about which wounds burn hot and which just smart.
I’m doing you the wrongs you asked for—right?
You like it when I hurt you? In the dark,
I’m good and bad. But hard. But held apart.

Sonnet in Denial

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