‘19

…didnt wish
to intimidate you

it must
mean you
weren’t the you
you
said
you
were
but weren’t

ah, but we were younger
the wishing me, stupid, I was

the stupid you, wishing you were the you you said you were but weren’t

Thing One

Before daybreak today
I heard their nervous flutter-breaths
The false adages
For, they knew — they always knew
Today I would abandon them
To save myself

Awakening
To fears, that wished I’d believe I was late
Or not good enough to show up in the first place
Back-talking
To Lies, that tried to infiltrate my wake-up thoughts
Would I recognize today was mine to do with as I pleased?

The gods allowed me sleep yester-eve’
The calendar delivered colors this morn’
Thus, my green eyes
Beheld true-blue skies
And animals came to instruct me
Before daybreak today

Tea Leaves

Cooperation
on occasion
there was, I recall

With attention
— dare I mention —
to the most primal instinct of all

But love
what of love
thusly, here the poem ends

For one cannot
and one ought not
use, abuse, and pretend