I was 15 years old with trails
of white powder dripping from my nose.
I was 16 and never saw a sober day of my life,
I hid behind bottles of whiskey and ***,
bags of molly, and vials of kitty.
I was 17 and growing tired
of this life.
I was 17 and knew this
wasn’t who I was meant to be.
I was 17 with friends and
a pact to move to California and make
something of ourselves. I was 18
and kicked out of my mothers house.
I was 18 and living with a best friend.
I was 18 and found out they
were doing ****** and ****.
I was 18 and sick of
all the lies so I left.
I moved to Socal where
I surfed couch to couch till I
climbed my way to the Bay area.
I was 19 and lost.
I was 19 and went on a 2 month
road trip with my best friend and a guy who tried to ****** me.
I was 19 and
looking for myself. I made it
to New Orleans and back with only losing myself
more. I was 19 and fell in love
for the first time. I was
20 and met a boy whom I never
sought out to show me how to change myself until he broke my heart for
the very first time. I was
20 years old and let him enter my
tunnel heart   like the yellowbird  he is.
He made it out alive but for a second I didn’t think I would.
I did. I was 20 and
finding myself. I was 20 and getting myself
together after a broken heart.  
I was 20 and I found myself for the first time.
I was 20 and no longer wanted death for my birthday
I am now 21 and fearless.

loitering in German is repulsive
always inebriated, even –
understand?

repetition and throat plug
pronouns (she gags on “du”
bleats “mein”)
exotic?  nah.  adored?

well

they tell me “das Gift” peals a
heavy cognate; it also
answers to “poison”

but Gifts in King’s
is “toxic” not
sorry
are – not – toxic

so flash me that
yellowbird
lather, anchor in strand

these quicksilver
nothings, murmured
honeydew venom


overheard myself last night
calling du but your scent
killed by mein pulse
almost fooled me, nearly

sounded like
the antidote
and other delicious gifts
you’ve given me