your words surge up from your throat
drops of saliva landing on my sleeve
burning through it like acid rain
they sizzle as they meet my epidermis
eating through flesh and vessels
engaging in a marathon with red blood cells
until it meets my heart
sets it ablaze
and my own acid rises to meet yours
reflux propelling the words up and
out of that burnt mouth of mine
a geyser spewing the acid from
beneath my carefully constructed
ground, and it hits you
splattering the walls around
we stand there, chests heaving
the room burnt away to nothing
filth settling upon our skin
turn on our feet to the bathroom
and scrub ourselves with soap
washing away our dirty words
neutralising our stinging wounds
new and old
we did not expect it
finally, i can touch you
we shake hands, a silent resolve
to do this again