Flaming hot Cheetos and fairly easy cheat
codes on the PS2. Keep your memory simple
like fresh Nike shoes on the first day of school;
a shortcut to cool.

That always lasts too short a time, like before
scampering small paws of a lifelong friend start to travel slowly
across rooms. He just needs more rest,
now he can’t climb down steps— I start to smile less.

Pause.
He’s still here but I’ll instead wander;
may so it goes soon but I’ll instead
ponder.

When did yogurt start needing spoons?
When did sweet things start rotting tooths?
How come it seems like no one treats me better
than long naps in November?

My smoldering body in space heated by space
heater, under a blanket thrown over
to keep the warm together.
Try to keep it together.

No, I’ll wonder if tomorrow knows how to hold
my heart in it’s hands. If rose-tinted lenses will
continue to be in style. It’ll surely
be a while till I figure it out

but until then I’ll try to learn
that a moment always collapses
under not yet existing futures
and no longer existing pasts.