i.

horror film: the last place the poor can go.

our second date- her father had given her chase but in slow motion.

he gave me his hand and I took it because it was free.

I told her in the car while it moved what a cliché she was. she looked at hills

a few of them
stopped rolling. she had me pull over.

horror films ain’t rocket surgery. I knew what she meant.

ii.

mothers and fathers, lie to your children.
tell them the honeybee wants to die for them; that no matter their stillness
it will sting.
tell them each they are a limited edition glow in the dark action figure.
tell them the world is flat;

that when it’s not, don’t get romantic to traverse the banged on ceiling
of hell.