Bethesda’s Pools
These lounges are stale rooms –
of vape plumes – of old lunatics
in squeezed parties of swingers
[masked women seek fulfilment
in polished boots] – eye-rubbed
dips into a pool – that flood you
told me of – inelegant belt-hits –
his scarred flesh does it for you
on uniform days/ Rum thoughts
like – I would rather lie unarmed
& bare [without armour] & avoid
lash & rope burns – these are all
I have of you [said degradations
day-to-day for not being struck]