striped

Consideration

Of rain on the tin roof; late.

Possibilities for connection

Left dangling like snapped rope bridges.

Melted chocolate left in the sun too long

Next to the burning sunflowers

And the unused gardening gloves belonging to my mum.

Amusement found in the briefest glances towards peace

Maybe the brush of a hug around my middle is healing

Maybe the brightness is found through escapism

That is fed by hyperfixations on language memes.

Delightfully disillusioning this whole thing

The sins we'll commit just to feel again

As an actor, the on switch short-circuited

Predictably at midnight every month or so -

Pricked fingers ooze the unshed tears

That were blocking your nostrils

As I re-plait my hair into a ponytail

That restricts my breathing

But gives me the energy to keep going; spitefully.

Unsolicited emails; unwanted opinions

The busy schedule that my watch's dead batteries ignore.

There is little excuse for the spiral through the algorithm

Easier to feed the pests

Than summon false friends

I'd keep my own company

But there's something delicious about a number above 70

See the red emoji trickle into my pupils; diluted

Thrump thrump thrump goes my ringtone

At the thought of popularity.

Doesn't it disorient you, when you wake up

To the sound of the alarm you set last night

Even though you're sleeping outside on the front porch

Something coded and wired screwed through your jeans pocket.

The squiggles they painted into your fingertips

For easier recognition, they promised

Never make it easier to get out of bed

Or meet with the grey toned help-giver

Who won't let you take another pair of Advil tablets

Because the pains in your stomach are hunger, not dread

There's nothing wrong with you, just dependent

No way to fix the little burrow you've made

Under a soft fluffy pop culture blanket

And $500 in bad decisions, regrets and sadness.

Out into the sunlight, the brightness overbearing

Your pupils tight

Don't forget to shield your senses

From anything less than disingenuous

Credit cards, debit cards,

Outstanding amounts of cravings

There's potential in the world around you

Just not enough time to harness it.

See, the machines your heart is hooked up to

Were updated only last night.

Something useless, your organs are -

Finally,

"Goodnight."

~