a basin and                   running
water aren’t enough this
shame requires a vaccine
an exorcism of
the spirit          who’s spirit?
mine?

steam billows expands fills
me engulfing me choking me
bristles scratching like a gambler
pleading desperately
pining the winning hand

echoes play on             repeat
a mind rolls in trance
a body in motion
victims of the weather
we float like a ship at
sea

how do you sanitize regret?
you pluck at it you push at it
you pick at it you pull at it
you treat it like a          scab.