Cadmium

Jasmine Malee

they called you mad for trying to save me
you may as well save me with poison

cover my face with metals and alloys and
let everyone know of your remedy

let us hope this is a form of medicine
not myrrh

and before it’s exhausted
brandish righteously your strigil

lest the poison penetrate my skin
and forever mar your gifted idyll

i trust that you’re not carelessly caustic
so keep my blue complexion pure