when a ship hits an iceberg you have two choices: flee to the life raft or let
the icy oceans take you with them
i just took 10mg of valium
im sitting at my kitchen table
waiting to feel a bit softer
my roommate is a painter
she favors the hues of sunsets
so our appartment is mostly red and pink
it is easy to look at
i might be incapable of holding a grudge
i want to stay angry at you
but i cant
i suppose i dont have the heart for it
i just poured another glass of wine
my last lover wont call again
he stopped calling
he was so very beautiful
but i dont care so much
because he was not so nice
and wouldnt stop talking about himself
tonight it feels so very nice to hunt alone
i might be very drunk and stoned right now
i think i am writing this because i have no one i want to talk to at this very
moment
there is no truth in what the others say
why is your smile so pleading?
she shrugged
i suppose i just didn’t want
to talk to you.
he winced
are you in love with someone?
she thought for a moment
then answered
i don’t know, are you?
no.
shame on you then.
A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN BE ALONE
WHEN I GOT OFF THE TRAIN TONIGHT
I WANTED TO BE
BACK IN THE MIDWEST
THERE WAS NO REAL PROMPT
FOR IT
MY BRAIN WAS SUDDENLY
FLOODED WITH IDEAS
OF LAYING IN FIELDS
AT NIGHT ALONE
AND BEING ABLE TO SEE VERY FAR
A PLACE WITH NO HILLS
I WANTED TO BE
IN A PLACE
WHERE YOU COULD BE
ALONE AT NIGHT
AND HEAR THE INSECTS
SWARMING ABOVE YOU
AROUND YOU
A PLACE
WHERE YOU CAN SEE
THE WHOLE MILKY WAY
I DIDN’T WANT TO BE
IN NEW YORK
THE SMELL
IS AWFUL HERE
AND SO IS
THE CROWDING
I WANTED TO BE ALONE
LIKE YOU ONLY KNOW
WHEN YOU ARE FROM THE MIDWEST
WHERE IT IS POSSIBLE
TO DRIVE TWENTY MINUTES AWAY
AND BE THE ONLY HUMAN BEING
FOR MILES AND MILES
I WANT TO SPOON
THE CORN STALKS
TO SLEEP TONIGHT
FURNITURE IS SELFISH AND UNFORGIVING
I HAVE A TENDENCY NOT TO TRUST
FRIENDS OR LOVERS
MY CAT
SHE IS ALWAYS EYEING ME SUSPICIOUSLY
THIS GLASS I AM DRINKING OUT OF
MIGHT CRACK AND CUT MY FACE
THE FUTON I SIT ON
COULD COLLAPSE
AND I WOULD EITHER BE
BADLY HURT
OR EMBARRASSED
I AM VERY GOOD
AT KEEPING MY
SECRETS TO MYSELF
I’VE NEVER NEEDED TO
SEEK SHELTER OR APPROVAL
FROM ANYONE
NOT EVEN FROM
THE FUTON
ALTHOUGH
IT WOULD BE NICE
IF THE FUTON COMPLIMENTED ME
ONCE IN A WHILE