Locked
by A.R. Arthur
You lean in and savor my skin;
Bronze and worn with lashings of rogue hairs
That no laser tame,
But you do not care about my shame,
My bodily image divided by foreign perceptions,
No, you merge with my fears and travel
The length of my saline discontent
Until I am fused with your heart beat
As your chest hair absorbs my finger tips
Lost in a jungle of lust,
A fever dream of calmness,
But we are hidden behind closed doors
That render our union momentary;
Legs entwined and lips locked in motion.
A.R. Arthur (formerly A.R. Salandy) is a Black Mixed-race poet & writer who has spent most of his life in Kuwait jostling between the UK & America. Anthony's work has been published over 260 times internationally. Anthony's Reviews have been published, or are forthcoming over 70 times internationally. Anthony's Flash Fiction was shortlisted and received an honourable mention in the 2022 The Dillydoun Flash Fiction Prize Competition. Anthony has 3 published chapbooks titled 'The Great Northern Journey' 2020 (Lazy Adventurer Publishing) & 'Vultures' 2021 (Roaring Junior Press) as well as a novel 'The Sands of Change' 2021 (Alien Buddha Press). Anthony's Chapbook 'Half Bred' was the Winner of the 2021 'The Poetry Question' Chapbook contest. Anthony is the EIC of Fahmidan Journal/Publishing & Co, Reviews Editor at Full House Literary & Poetry Editor at Chestnut Review. Twitter & Instagram: @ararthurwriter Author Website: https://ararthurwriter.wordpress.com/