you know how soft
and sensitive skin gets
when you have a ring
pressing against it
long enough
to leave a dent, a shadow, a mark?

when you
chose to pull the binding metal
off to melt into a lock
taking with you the armour
that protected a tiny space

a band
on the fourth finger of the hand
it was left bare to touch
to play and disregard
to teach distrust

and how time past
as I withered in front of
wedding ring stores
how did no stone or rock
fit to cover up
all that was left there

bare
to touch
but all it much desired
was a taste
of you(th)

KH