I have tasted how bitter the world could be,
and how sometimes you'd find clarity
at the bottom of a bottle.

I know that blood pretty much tastes like rust
and that instant sleep can come from a pill,
leaving a sickening aftertaste.

I know how liquor burns your throat
and how it fast forwards everything
while you're stuck in slow motion.

I know how tears
aren't that different from seawater—
you'd drown in either, one way or another.

I've become numb enough
to tolerate fire and venom,
numb enough to say
that the world tastes bland.

My appetite for life
continues to deteriorate.

I no longer want to taste
the world in all its flavors,
I no longer want experiences
served on silver platters.

No matter the presentation,
Nothing ever seems worth savoring anymore.