Sting

Once you feared a sting
but now you seek it.
Sting, for attention directed
and learning on the job,
beats an ache
or a throb.
The snap and the ring
sharp and sleek. It
grabs your shoulder
gives you a shake
and goes off,
done its turn.
No getting older
with you, like a yearning.
Sneaky, the sting unexpected.
A quake when all is calm,
a dry cough.
The wrong balm
on a burn
and you're back at the burning.