1354

there’s something about you that I

like, maybe it’s the way your

toboggan fits on your head

covering your eyes and suffocating

your pink ears or maybe it’s the

color of your jeans, bright blue

and pale like skin around the knees

from too many wears without washing

there’s something about you

that I like

and maybe

unfortunately

it’s the way you laugh when

your friend is crying

her head poking out of her hands

like a flush pyramid out of sand

but you know

the more I look at you

the more I’m confused

maybe you know less than me

and between the two of us

my ego can’t stomach it

it vomits black sludge at the mere

thought you might be missing

something

some shining beacon

we’re all getting, seeing and

forgetting

some star we realize has been

dead for years

but you keep telling me

to believe in the damn thing

but no no

I’ve changed my mind again

I like the way your fingers

claps and unclasp

when you’re stressed

the way you used to put

a cigarette in your glove box

right after telling me

you’ve given up smoking

I remember everything being

so quaint

but now

you’re sitting

against your bed

your head against it

your hair splayed like

a branching river

only lifting it to tell me

this and that

all I have to give is a survey

are you happy?

don’t worry about the proctor

he’s drinking and inhaling smoke

he’s not one to judge