Right now, my mind...
Is the proverbial popcorn machine.

Every little thing that bothers me is
likened to a kernel.
And to make popcorn, you need lots...
Bucketloads of kernels.

Dump them all in the machine.
Let them whirl.
They sit layered on top of each other
undisturbed,
on the hot bed until...
The spindly metal arms begin to rotate...
Whose sole purpose is to agitate.

Buttered with debilitating insecurities.
Sprinkled with irrational fears.
Heated with erratic temperament.

And here come the arms again.
Rotating,
churning,
inciting.

No one knows when the kernels
are going to cave and rupture.

Then...
"Pop!" would go one.
Then another...
And another...
Soon they would all start to explode.
When that happens,
I do too.

••••••••••••••••••••••
Addendum
•••••••••••••••••••••­•

I love popcorn.
And I don't like to share.

I got up at 6 again
I had to take the trash out
put on another extra couple layers
'fore I dashed out

caught up on some housework
as much I could
and loaded up on carbs
before
I went to cut some wood

I'm tired just thinking about it

and  4 pm just rolled around
I'm trying to find my center
my back feels like its gonna break
my hands are full of splinters

my heart is pounding in my chest
like it's going to explode
but hey, I'll make a couple bucks
and get some cardio

...warm out today

"sunscreen is for *******"

****

I guess I'll never learn
now that the sun is setting
man, I really feel the burn

made my way home, made some dinner
and I made some decent green
and on the way back home
I got myself some Dairy Queen

a third-pound of ground beef
and a pile of diced ramp bulbs
I laced it with steak seasoning
rolled in about a handful

ain't got no time for fancy buns
so I thought that instead
of dressing up a masterpiece
I'd put it on some bread

**...and it was good