box of darkness

Posted on August 18, 2008by Sinclair Sexsmith

The Uses of Sorrow
(In my sleep I dreamed this poem)

Someone I loved once gave me a
box full of darkness.

It took me years to understand
that this, too, was a gift.

Mary Oliver
from Thirst

Sinclair Sexsmith (they/them) is a queer trans butch writer focusing on sexualities, genders, kink, and relationships. Their short story collection, Sweet & Rough: Queer Kink Erotica, was a 2016 finalist for a Lambda Literary Award, and they are the editor of 5 editions of Best Lesbian Erotica. Their latest book is Your Year in Kink: A Workbook to Reflect, Plan, & Create Your Kink Life. They lead the online erotica writing group, Writing Spicy, annually.