like smoke
and flame
and all the things
that people always say
and about how
“where there’s smoke
there’s fire”
and how it’s difficult
to decide
which to be
or become
and if one
is really better
than the other
no one ever tells you
that life can
(and probably will)
kick the living **** out of you
for as long as you’ll let it
no one ever talks about
how heavy your soul
and insides
can get
if you allow yourself
the time in the dark
and how you’ll get to
a certain age
when you look around
and want to scream
at anyone who will listen,
anyone older than you
“where the **** were you?”
“where the **** have you been!?”
and “why didn’t you say?”
“why didn’t you tell me what to do?”
“or how to be?”
“how in hell could you let me decide for myself…
when i knew absolutely nothing…
about anything!!?”
“where were you?”
and you’ll feel like drowning
or something simple
you’ll feel like just the air in your lungs
just the breath in your lungs
is enough
like smoke
or flame
and all the things
that people say
can never stack up
to all that they don’t