Fucking Hell

This isn’t the paradigm shift
that I signed up for.
Sitting up the whole night,
over-caffeinated and underfed,
we stretch our already tenuous positions
so thin they go translucent.
The air has the autumnal smell, you know?

Sometimes, all you need is a whisper.
Rumination does a body good.
I’m not necessarily proud
of what happened back there, but
I was so unsubstantial in the moment.
I’ve reached more than several breaking points by now.

Count this only with the left side of your brain.
Come to find that great personal trauma
was carrying us the entire time.
Lick it or ticket. Allow me to veto that for you.
Have enough guns and drum circles?
As if these predilections
were merely skin deep.

-r. miller