Don’t wake me in the morning
Shame is a spotlight in our eyes.
The audience applauds others
while we hide in the shadows.
Grab a shovel to bury
sorrow under snow,
like orchids in the cold
we will wither.
Our temptation pulses
like heavy footsteps-
hear our hearts beat,
rhythm gets stronger
then frightens into stone.
Slide our bodies
under sheets of passion,
skin under silk and sweat-
desires stain them,
we whitewash the memories.
Our bones are brittle
from these burdens on our back.
Dim the lights
on this temporary coalition.
Follow bright apparitions,
made for strangers
searching in the dark.

Damien Posterino (he/him) is a Melbourne-born poet. His first collection of 40 poems, Show Me the way into Exile, was published in January 2023 by Alien Buddha Press. You can find him on Twitter @damienposterino and Bluesky at @damienposterino.bsky.social