I am writing to convince myself I am on the second day of withdrawal symptoms and I am kicking myself for using such juvenile metaphors I am sifting through scraps of newspapers, each one bearing the face of Antichrist burned into my retinas I am feeling myself swell with rage I am clenching fists and biting tongues I am limited in my capacity to destroy I am becoming romantic about forest fires and wildlife again I am becoming misty eyed at the thought of where we came from I am speaking in tongues I am establishing a dialogue I am addressing Mohammed as if we met at a high school party I am watching a child of Christ light a cigarette at a gas pump I am trying to think of an excuse to leave I am breathing in exhaust fumes I am standing on Nietzsche's shoulders as if he owed me a better view I am putting off calling my grandmother back I am godless in my arrogance I am strung out on my ideology I am overdosing on words I am fighting hard I am losing That doesn't matter