Given

she had red hair

red as the face

of fire, knife, glinting

in the dancing flames

my hood pulled down

tight so they couldn’t see

the terror reflected in my eyes

but I held up my hand

questions poised in my lips

her milky skin danced against

flames as high as the sun

as I bought time like lottery

tickets, sacrificing my own

sex rendered body

for that of the untouched

until there was no more time

for sale weeping as both

our bodies triumphed in

the patiently waiting flames

our throats smiling

from ear to ear