Nothing But

I am nothing but

bloodied curtains, demons’ down payments

a brick building brooding

crimson silence.

I am nothing but drag rouge across a man’s upper lip

the angry flow of Hot Chili Pepper tears

of fire and lit albums.

I am nothing but dancing across live coals

thriving off your painful hops

to coat the bottoms of your feet.

I am nothing but hellfire’s hellhounds

the rosebud picked

and red rovers of childhood innocence

and I am nothing.

Nothing but.