That Confident Smile

I lie awake
Watching with watchful eyes
As you smile as a snake would smile with a set of full teeth
You twist the scarf around my wrists,
Twist it to tie the scarf to the bed frame.

I say nothing--just watch that smile

You run your hand down my body
And wrap another scarf around my ankle, tying it tightly to the bedpost.
You repeat the process with my other ankle
Until it's all I can do to flex my foot.

I say nothing--just watch that confident smile

"Are you sure?" he asks.
I look at his eyes for the first time and
Cannot find my voice.

Sometimes, when he smiles, there are no words that will deny him.

So I lie awake with my eyes closed,
So that I won't have to see what I've become.