brief discipline

it stung
that first strike
against flesh 
against me 
eager
anticipating the next
and then the next
stroke and strike and sting
making my pale back red,
my tanned knuckles white

teary eyed and silent
stubborn to give in to his taunt
breathing 
i was 
even
hard 
then harder 
and still the sting came
sending me off into that place
of pain and calm
and gentle holding

"we're done now, 
come on."
give me a minute, i said
and the tears fell freely
more than they had any time before
and the sting gave way to warmth and
 

the warmth settled in 
to relief 
as it will soon settle to 
blues and yellows
and fade again
like the control 
i'm steady to hold

========== RedWillow ==========