Got
a scar on my face.
A
tiny, knotted-up looking piece
of
extra flesh on my cheek.
Had
it ever since I can remember
I’ve
always hated it.
It’s
not humongous,
or
even traffic-stopping,
but
I hate it, nonetheless
I
think I might try to get rid of it
With
the tip of an extremely sharp blade,
or
a piece of really thin wire
I
could try to slice it off,
but
then I might not be able
to
stop the bleeding
I
can just imagine being rushed
to
the emergency room
with
a blood-soaked towel
crushed
to the side of my face,
having
to explain, awkwardly,
that
I had a little accident while
trying
to perform minor plastic surgery
on
myself. . . .
and
I’d probably get a lecture
from
the doctor about self-mutilation,
and
I’d most likely need stitches
and
a tetanus shot. . . .
Fuck
it.
The
scar’s really not that bad.
If
I wanted to suffer consequences
for
my actions,
INNOCENCE BY A 40-WATT BULB
Cynthia Ruth Lewis
I’m beautiful—
downright angelic if you see me
in the proper light
I’m not fond of neon, bright sun
or fluorescent . . .
those only bring out the insanity in me;
a crazed glare in my eyes
intensified by harsh, overhead lighting,
my pale skin mocked by neon clarity,
alabaster shield luminous in the glaring
enemy light
even my mind is revealed—
dark thoughts sprung free from
the depths of the coldest basement
hanging like blood-stained clothes
on a line for all to see
I’m a lunatic in daylight.
Bright light reveals all:
a wild animal caught in a trap,
eating its own leg to escape the harsh reality
of daybreak
In dim lighting, I’m anything you
want me to be;
by candlelight or a 40-watt bulb
I can charm the pants off you,
this angel with seraphic grin
can take you places that you’ve never been
I’m your demon-eyed angel;
I can turn you on any way you want,
but don’t you dare touch the light switch—
you’ll only bring out
the devil in me
Cynthia Ruth Lewis has been writing on and off for the past
twenty years, only in the past few having become seriously committed to submitting her poems. She can be found in Cherry
Bleeds, Underground Voices, Zygote in My Coffee, and other venues. Piss on Your Parade, a collection of her
work, can be obtained by emailing: bookas6670@yahoo.com
