you made me breakfast
today. I stepped on your toe
today. we watched
a game show and I felt stupid
today. we had sex twice
today. I wondered if
the bloom was off the rose
because of me and my
tactless big mouth
today. how could anyone
who doesn’t hate himself
want me? I still don’t
understand it, but I love you
and I think, I hope
you still love me.
I hope it’s the first
of many days where
we work it out and enjoy
each other through
thick and thin
like we did
today.
Month: July 2016
gratitude
you came to our show. I know
this place is your home away
from home, and it would
almost be abnormal
if you didn’t come, but
still. none of our
other friends showed. for what
it’s worth, I appreciate
it. thank you.
low ebb
it’s just this: I’m too tired
to care about all the things
I should be worrying about
and too tired to care
that I don’t care. you may ask
how on earth am I so tired
when I slept for ten hours
last night and eleven hours
the night before that, and today’s
exertions were so minor
they barely even registered
a blip on the exercise meter.
probably I’m overtired
from sleeping too much
and not doing enough.
whatever! all I know is that
I’m at a low ebb of my energy,
my mood, and my body is done
being awake. I’d give anything
to be sleeping and/or not feel
so fucking tired.
kill me now or put me to bed,
whichever is quicker.
the wish III
I had a wish, a little secret
dream that for the longest time
I tried to deny, I
stuffed it down deep
into the dark corners
of my crowded closet
of a heart. it seemed too
impossible to ever
come true – I was looking
for a unicorn, a Pegasus,
or some other magical
creature that didn’t seem
to exist in the realm
of the quotidian.
the fleck
before I left the house
I noticed I had a tiny fleck
of something in my teeth
and resolved to floss
it out.
at the end of a magical night,
I smiled at myself
happy, tired
in the mirror
of the bathroom of my
favorite venue and
saw that same damned fleck
still hanging out
devil-may-care.
the moral of this story is:
no matter how cute you think
you are, there’s always got to be
something that wants
to bring you down
to earth.
the necessary evil of refueling
you eat like a beast
that has forgotten it’s
a man. you snuffle and choke
down your food so fast –
I’ve seen feral dogs
that don’t know
where their next meal
is coming from
eat less frantically – you
can’t possibly be
enjoying it.
beasts
there’s a reason
these myths exist. Circe
and the swine, Beauty
and the Beast, Red
and the wolf. men
see themselves as beasts
when they act on their
animal instincts.
they see women
as the humans, who
have the power
to set you free
from your cages
of flesh, if only
we would take pity
on you and see beyond
your rude forms
and beastly behavior
to the suffering men
trapped inside.
tit for tat
I’m so fucking sick of
playing this game. I thought
we were finally somewhat
even. and then you went
and played your hidden
hand, the ace
up your sleeve; made
the same old boring,
stupid move. well,
you got my attention, just
enough to make me
make a play in sheer
self-defense.
here’s the thing:
even a beggar can play
chess with the queen.
but the queen
can have the beggar
thrown in jail
when she’s sick
of their game.
not because he’s won.
because she’s done
playing.
welp, have fun
in your self-imposed prison.
is death by taunting
your guards starting
to look at all attractive?
dudebros vs. misfit toys
in answer to your observation
about my hypocrisy – my
stating that I hate
most everyone, and do not
suffer boring fools
lightly, yet showing great
kindness and patience
in dealing with
difficult individuals –
I’ve figured out
the common thread.
kitten/rose
I’m sorry to report
that the rose you gave me yesterday
is already dying. I don’t know
if it’s the oppressive heat,
or the fact that I gave it
Tylenol Migraine Headache
– bonus: it expired in 2011 –
instead of pure aspirin
in its water, but
it’s wilting fast
and will be defunct
rather sooner than
later.
R. Brookes McKenzie 