recycle that word
you were a 'the'
now you're a 'now'

I couldn't file away
'stop' yet
because I knew I would need it
later.

I threw out 'wait'
Yet I saved 'stop'
I guess in some ways
they are kind of the same thing

now the page is open to
'help'

what do I?


and no matter how many times I
try to shred
"wrong"
"I"
"were"
and "mistake" they
keep coming to the top
of the pile

but you're syllables
not tea leaves.

And lucky for all of us
I'm not a fortune teller.