Expectations of seedy rooms and
shots of whiskey lined tables
of pre-op meds...
Unprepared for the clinical feel
of the exam rooms, the trays
of sterile instrument packs,
the black latex gloves that
seemed Halloweenish,
the dental chair they
placed me in...
Scared when I saw the
gleaming silver hook and
at that moment, I closed my eyes,
gripped the handlebars to squeeze
for pain control, the ones just like
I used in childbirth, just like those.
Hypersensitive, I listened to
every syllable he spoke...
"deep breath, let it out,
deep breath, let it out,
deep breath and hold it,
hold it, hold it..."
and I screamed one
orgasmic primal yell
as the hook went through
my tender skin, followed
by the blue gemstone.
Surprised it was over so fast,
I wiped cold sweat off my brow.
I did it! I walked through the
chilly downtown night air
back to the pub, lifted my shirt
and showed off my bellybutton.
Addy poured me a cold drink,
Angie told me about salt water soaks
to relieve the tenderness, and
Rich said, "Wow, baby!"
I've been initiated now and
have a bumper sticker on my van
to prove it ~ for those too squeamish
to see what the tattoo artist
did with his Captain Hook
black latex hands.
She's a beauty, sparkling
above my white lace
waistline...