The Baubles of Parasites

Needing not just attention but legitimacy.

By Vincent R. Pozon

They rouge their cheeks with our blood,
tweaking for more red and pink,
and well-disciplined lashes

They wish for extra fingers
to wrap gold around, more ears
for their harvest of danglers

They fatten wrists and necks for
more acreage of skin, apt for
their longer, golden nooses.