All it takes is some sheer, low-cut skirt slinking
Stigmatizing her subjected impact
Saffron-hued heels click on curtsy ground and court
Stares from steel-blue eyes, pyretic and VIVID
Is it lonely acuity?
Intent shape-shifts a misshapen focal inquisition
Sharpening pheromonic sloped lenses, a guise?
Her perfume always gets them high, so how
Low?
Does??
She???
Go????
Backward-step sidewalks curb this bullish
Biological divide between peripheral love and
Passé fling "just lust" fantasy faux pas
Friend or foe?
Clarity not yet, this is a luxe hide-and-heat seeking
Gamut of catch cry, yoke, and optical muscle
VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN IS ENDEMIC
Feminine shadows
Seldom stalk ala fixation silhouettes, yet he bobs
And weaves from woven discipled demagogue
Playbooks, rightly or wrongly
A writ!
Right on cue, her heart ticks toward immediacy
The ThRuMmiNg bass from safety bubbles afar
Distances itself, that bellow, from her caught at
No fault "cute" destitute transparency
-Once-
-Twice-
-Thrice-
Threnodic strides, she's FAST on her feet, yet
The dead know no sanctuary
Nor false confidantes
And he knew this fact from first sight.
(c) Edward Swafford 2026
***TITLE IMAGE URL.
About the Creator
Edward Swafford
Hello! I'm an Australian writer, copywriter, and healthcare professional. I've written on Medium for over two years and also run Black Coffee Creative on Substack (over 900 subscribers).
Edgy syntax is my bailiwick.
Keep reading
More stories from Edward Swafford and writers in Poets and other communities.
Off the Book
It ended like every other stupid idea. Badly, and alone. I’m researching digital confession ethics, he said. A tech ethicist. He gestured at floating data I couldn’t see then pulled out a physical notebook. Actual paper, fountain pen. He held it up like he was showing me scripture.
By Nicky Frankly7 days ago in Fiction
Comments (3)
Riveting work, Edward. I had to read a couple of times. I agree with Sandy; the rhythm is most electrifying. Best of luck to you with this challenge! 😊
The rhythm here is electrifying. Love it!
This is for The Unnecessary Line challenge, isn't it? I realized it when I reached the bold line. And it definitely shifted after that! It took on a sense of menace. All your opening lines are so cool! Her perfume had a psychedelic effect on me! My favorite line is "Is this lonely acuity?" Compelling poem. ⚡️💙 Bill⚡️