PAIN DRIPS

Stephanie Maiman

over and over he struck me down
I tightened, I tensed,
I warded off pain
but inside, inside
listen to the rain
yes, pain drips
and drips, and drips,
but let it out, let it go
there won't be any more
sensations to feel
feel now
just to know now
feel pain? depart
feel pleasure?
ahhhh
closer now,
closer
let pleasure
permeate
me

Stephanie Maiman is a mathematics instructor at Santa Monica College.