a twinge and the paper
bag is crumpling under the water stains.
doodle over it with
crayons ablaze with eye-searing
neon, and
forget about the collapse of rome.
(imnotprettyimnotiswearimnot)

andandand.
i ran out of things to say,
but i will continue suffocating under
words burrowing
into my dna, because there
is too much in your eyes.

i don't breathe for
the phoenixes in this
life, but for
the next one.
don't prove it,
hush, it's impossible.
empty, inside and yesterday.

three spaces and a picket fence
painted gray;
the colors are fading, but
black goes with everything.
ishouldhavetoldyou.
the drums are beating
under my metallic-tasting tongue

and i might just start something new.