what makes you so different from the people you are
fighting? there’s no middle ground when fuses are
lighting with fires igniting and children delight
ing in whatever they eat off the screen. ado
lescents restricted to the diet of infants.
don’t tell me about the hidden mean
ing in the things i am seeing in
the things i am feeling in the
things i am eating while
you are still teething.
five senses can’t
sense the fact
of my being
. alright?

*Albuquerque, NM

It is not written

That I should feel the guilt I'm feeling in
This murmur nearly constant when
My mind is always reeling and
My heart is never silent, absent

Why forget your fathers and
Why forsake your husbands?
He never told the truth, of course
He said he does — He doesn't
Were you meant to judge the world?
Forgive me, but I wasn't

I let lying dogs keep lying so
My ridicule is harmless, dormant
I don't care for biased advice nor
Ask you if I should, shouldn't
You believe I'm foolish and
I've never truly been a woman, for
I am not so sensible: to
Bear the grace the title warrants

But you are able-bodied and have
Done the things I haven't, couldn't
Touch the path of purity with
No mind for this violent torrent
Work your way along my spine and
Hurl me toward a boiling tangent
Pride will leave me battered while
I scream at you with mad abandon
Yes! he lied about it all —Don't
You think I know he doesn't?
You were born to get it right
Forgive me, but I wasn't