reddening

among the chinese paper lanterns i am washed. everyone has come wearing red, only to rid themselves of it. bodies will mash and slide together—
cheek against neck; thumbnail grazes waist
—to redden the skin itself.

but i have come in blue.
buttoned only almost all the way.
hands reach for my chest and unbutton me
one by one, cherry fingertips fondling the small, holey black discs.

i thought myself protected by relative sobriety and general naivete but before flinching i am lip-kissed. over and over again. pressed between them and my blue flag is gone. all glistening with sweat and then i, too, am red.

blackberry in hand, andy somehow stands still
whereas i feel unable to stop
grinding impatiently, i wait
until

mouthsopen/chestsbare/soundsdrowned
headsmuddled/friendsgreyed/pantsdowned/
tongueswet/glassestraded/lightstrobing
and one eye winks.