I woke up later than usual but I am in here,
and the first thing to notice me was a tiny little tear,
the backwards kind
been waiting for the sun to rise
so it could greet me
back through the nose tunnel
into the canals
so I'm breathing underwater
drowning in sleep
like waking up to your weeping
like I woke up with this soft dog
in yesterday's dress
I've trained John Shinn to not refer to a plaid shirt as a flannel if it isn't flannel
he calls it a plaid, then
I don't even notice that I do this
but maybe I'm incredulous
or maybe I'm just correct
maybe I'm a boss
it's just a shirt.
do you want your shirt back?
the ironic one
it smells bad
it looks bad,
it's a sad, terrible t
I wish I didn't know where it was
within the handful of those I love
there are some who are more difficult than others,
some do worse, some cause upset,
some I can't barely get along with
some I trust less
some are easier to hurt,
some are wound up, like me
some are delicate.
But we all remain
even when one of us loses
or loses it
& we don't give up for anything.
I expect everyone to hang
because to hang is to be worth it is to want to be worth it.
To say I love you in a silence,
I'll love you whatever,
even though you've lost your mind,
or are selfish,
or are too tender for conversation,
or have overabundant expectations.
I'll be here when you get back
from whatever terrifying trip
you're on
