Posts for June 22, 2026 (page 4)

The Prelude:

I am working through my burnout cycle, 
which is to say, I have said no this summer. 
It is not a perfect system yet, and I know it never will be.
Not just because there is never an end, but because I am the problem.
I will make myself, my health, my peace, the priority,
but the part of me that cannot stand for waste will advocate for herself too.
She is the one that says, we can, so we should. 
She rolls her eyes at those comfortable with the status quo.
She judges- herself first and foremost, for not doing more. 
But that seeps into her opinion of her peers. 
She asks, How can you sit here with what we have at our finger tips and squander it?

He’s the only person I know who uses checks
as bookmarks, keeps a list
of estimated tax payments displayed
on the fridge, measures out miles
per gallon into dollars and cents 
and divides up his paycheck into 16 categories.
Without him I’d be lost.
With him I’m befuddled.

In a hedge
against the ever increasing
instances of forgetting,
certain men
reach back past
middle age, past young adulthood,
to the halls of Middle School,
and refresh
the mental notebook they keep
with records of the girls
with whom they’ve shared
something physical

I am one of those.
I will read all the way to the last page
where at the amphitheater in Nobel Park
Priscilla — who liked to tease boys —
kissed me
with wet lips
on the cheek
while we danced to
Moon River

my controller
is disconnected

this might
be metaphor

similarly

probably

don’t take batteries
with water

in place
of morning medicine

unless

Goodbye all of my things
rusted tool box
expired vending machine
dull pearl necklace

Memories were had and saved
quiet rubber duck
dusty frank sinatra poster
five year borrowed book

All is now ok
busted frame of a deer
worn archie comics
skinny jeans

I must go
wilted bush
overgrown grass
dilapidated house

Goodbye all of my things
my Love is still true
new Love will emerge
thank you

Goodbye

Let’s note this boy

He is lost, yes?
So if I am he, then who am I?
Yes, certainly.
I am Father, I am Husband.
A noble role — yes, surely.
All that I have dreamed.
I am happy — why do you ask?
Yes, I am he, but he is lost.
I tell my Son he must not love
Another like me:
Husband, Father, Man.
He must be Good, he must be Holy
Like the Great Lord intended,
Life without Pain, without Misery.
How dull, this ache
Cured only with a drink of a lake
Of red grapes, delirious
And dreaming of Him,
Unreachable
Until I wake.
Then I remember —
Yes, of course,
I am all that I was.
Blessed by the Lady,
Cured of malady.

ion like him nomore    

         actually.    i loathe him

    like if i was to see him            i         would                            

                                            spit                            

                               SPIT IN HIS FACE
     naw                   
                           i                              
                                      wouldn’t do that

mama said           spittingisNOTladylike        

          but if it was…                        

                         PTOOEY  
                             
                                  ptooey  
   
                  pToOeY  

           theni’dwipe    thatremainingSLOBBER           

                 clearoffmymouth
                
                            fr               fr