Rodeo Buckle

You begged for that belt
forsaking mercy, leaking
hunger and snarling when
you're touched

won this rodeo reward breaking
a monster, slinging snot into
the rafters, a cyclone of raw hide
and my earnest courage

clawing at the gold inlay
slipping out of my busted ropers
taste of fresh black blood at
the back of my throat, suffocating
under my own broken ribs

remember
to breathe
knuckles against the threaded knot
clench when the gate spills open
forget that the world is lost and
spinning out of your control

you begged for that belt
animal smell of filthy desire
but baby, I'm the wrong man
to be asked for mercy.

TA