OF THE LIKE

VII. DWINDLED DOWN TO THIS

they are the bruised knees and chicken dinners from childhood

the ones that were heated up in the microwave and torn apart with hungry hands

they reek of normality, it's a feat

get used to it now, darling, it's all you'll ever be

you will grow to be the space in between your thighs,

the thick liquid you slather on

cover yourself with it to make up for the lack of clothing

remember the days spent on the rooftops of abandoned buildings?

sitting with a new boy, a new girl

it's all the same now, just blurred lines that can't be sharpened with lenses

or electric pencil sharpeners from your first grade classroom (you know, those loud ones?)

remember the questions you would ask to no one in particular,

shouting words out to the sky

as if the gods would listen to you

as if the stars would receive your wishes and grant them

as if the planets would hear your questions and answer them

you asked what life meant because

your google search didn't help much other than tell you that it's a noun

and some other scientific nonsense you don't believe

this is me telling you, this is me teaching you

reread this, darling, until your empty mind comprehends it

don't worry if it takes long, you have an eternity

- DWINDLED DOWN TO THIS [ALTERNATIVELY NAMED: IT'S EMPTY WHERE YOUR BRAIN SHOULD BE - 8.13.16]