Jenna Vélez
Poetry
EVERY MARTYR A MASOCHIST
I tear at my fingers until they bleed
Succumb to rust-filled air
Follow the ravine my sweat carved out
Spinal riverbed
My lady / Malady
Relish kissing stings
Before the rage of
Belt buckles
“Earn it,” he says
And demands worship on
Busted knees
Need me / Knead
With bloody knuckles
On unforgiven skin
Strike me
Before I change my mind
I know when to remove my shirt
And let angry men
Carve their initials in my back
Scared I’ll take the blade
One day / Take the fun out
And kill myself for them

Jenna Velez is an upcoming poet and friendly neighborhood witch from suburban Philadelphia. She tweets @northernbruja and her work can be found at jennavelez.weebly.com.