White hot water shimmering, scalding
Edges of skin quiver on first touch.
Now under, over, around,
Covered in its welcome shroud,
Body immersed in beautiful buoyancy.
Dark night-time poison squeezed from pores,
Sweat slithering across temples,
Thousands of tiny needles where hair joins skull.
Head resting on smooth white porcelain,
Molten pokers shooting through soft tissue.
Eyes closed staring at magical colours,
Red, purple, orange, star burst.
Distant sounds linger on the edge of consciousness;
Fridge humming, mumbled voices, birds laughing.
From somewhere a draught curls in.
Real or imagined?
Cooling breeze on broiled skin.
Eastern afternoons remembered,
Hints of humidity and iced tea lodged deep in memory.
Drip, drip, dripping of air conditioning.
Or is it the tap?
Ragged breath drawn across
Dirt dry tongue, searching for moisture
Finding false promise of salty lips.
Angels of Codeine appear as the pain subsides.