you were born asleep
and your mind
reached a place
where you had
no hands-

your first memory
is of being aware
that someone
beat you to them.

when given
an alphabet
to recite
you count
as predicted
by your father’s
future.

I have known men
to kick babies
with no more thought
than setting them
to stun.

invent nothing.

words end
but end
on a word.