I call it a paradox
because my ego is too
sensitive and marked up
for higher margins
to use a cheap word like
hypocritical

I realized that I’m jealous
your wrist watch cost more
than my car and, frankly,
I feel like I’m losing

not that I want to win
some blue ribbon
first prize in the rat race
—I’m not an animal

besides,
it all seems so trivial

I want to say:
the difference
between style
and
clothing is not appearance
but, rather, selfishness

but it’s not that simple
even if, some places, it is
true enough to
burn like salt

in the end, I’m not doing
anything to help
either
I’m simply not doing anything
less elaborately than you are