from Portuguese monção; from Arabic mawsim, “season”; from wasama, “to mark, brand”

Scores
               of scorpions
                                 honey-bright
scorpions
                  twist counter-
                                       clockwise 
around my body
                                    saw-toothed
pincers shred
                  my jeans & shirt
                                          when I’m stripped
completely
                  all but two
                                       scorpions 
stop clattering
                  they scramble up
                                       my left arm
& shoulder
                  press tack-
                                       sharp legs 
against the arteries
                  in my neck
                                       I slowly reach
for them
                     expect a few
                                          bloody sparks
but instead
                  of scorpions
                                       my thumb
troubles
                  two warm letters
                                       initials
his initials
               the scorpions
                                       rattle