Cringe

a poem

Flashback

Aged 9 and just

Aware of the bird’s and bees

Aware enough to curl my toes

When a couple kissed

On the TV

While we sat together

On the couch

Aware enough to flush bright red

As a moan cries out from

Tiny plastic speakers

Now

Aware of the sickness that sits between us

I cringe and wait

As the cancer advert

Blares from our TV

Red flush

Toes curl

‘I beat it and so can you’

We change the channel