Paramour
On his knees for a hope and a pulse
The witching hour? Ha, LONG AFTER. Cocooned within this stealthy covering of clemency night, a bare blanket to hide from whom, God?
I wear it still, so still. I wear it to cover the prize, my sin or solitude? Matters little, the effrontery is nigh.
He arrives.
Clad in yesteryear vestments. Head down, shame or a trespasser for anonymity’s sake? Nothing forsakes in this room, not when I await my been-here-done-this-365-day sacrament.
Two epitome bodies meet against a noir glow, lights off and television paused. Flattering, fanning the flattery of moot mood lighting.
I drop my vanguard guard in unison with him. We share a cathartic kiss, tongues marred by churlish strokes. Wicked lashing, commitment could never breathe extolled virtue unto our lungs.
He lowers his death-race knell knees to the wooden floor.
It’s never primal nor animalistic nor brutish. There’s solace in this sordid act, as he stares into my windowless eyes and rhythms my cock with his doctrine mouth.
Even in protective omnidirectional darkness, I still see the marks on his forearms. Uneven, streaky, some old but many new. Nothing I can do will change his path.
The seed is swallowed. This derelict deed is done. I commanded it, yet what of he?
© Edward Swafford 2025Thank you for reading and/or listening!!
This piece focuses on the methamphetamine epidemic among gay and bisexual men. I’ve been penning an E-book of 100 true-to-life stories, plus audio and written interviews with those who’ve fallen into the trap of meth addiction, since February.
I have no idea when I’ll complete the E-book, I have more research and field work to conduct.
Paramour also doubles as a call-out for Black Coffee Poetry’s forthcoming curated collection: The Religion Enigma. To submit, email your poem/SOC/experimental writing/creative fiction OR nonfiction piece to blackcoffeepoets@gmail.com.
The Editorial Eye: Part Two podcast is a few days away…
The Editorial Eye: Part One
An image shouldn’t be seen as an add-on to a work of great writing. It can (and should) tell part of the story.
Until then, here’s a peek at my creative process regarding image sourcing and selection. The title and secondary image for Paramour fit the brief.
So, what images didn’t make it, and why?
Fantastic lighting and color saturation
Resolution isn’t high enough
Model in pose doesn’t catch the wandering eye, no X-factor
Fusion of psychedelic color and layering is impressive
Model is out of focus, and the blur effect is too heavy
Too many facets for the wandering eye to focus on
High resolution and strong color depth
Model catches the wandering eye - almost
The body paint and makeup detract from the model’s striking pose
It’s a clichéd image with a lack of lowlighting
What crazy is how at its very core, this poem speaks about EVEYRHTING.. the chase, the jitters, the WHY. I'm gasping for air
Harry is beating me in the comment metaphor department. I'll grab a fork.
This is better than dessert.