After committing the forbidden act br Totally without remorse or conscience br She paused then licked the blade, br From back to edge br Along the diagonal br From heel to tip br Cold smooth steel, br Across the coarse textured tongue br Risked the wound of muted silence br Condemnation and isolation, br Cautiously peered guiltily around the room br Grew confident by being undetected br Energized with unfettered bravado br Perpetuated another blow br Plunged the blade deeper and twisting br Decisively withdrawing it to her lips br She was free br Overwhelmed with a sense of elation br Untouchable and above the law br The blade glinted menacingly, br She removed the jam cleanly.