Eris ~ Tuesday, August 19, 2025

For ten seconds, I was in love, my life
over, so to speak, nothing more, say less
remember Utica, two thousand four

ten seconds in April, I had a wife
each time, I remember the tornado
nowhere near, say less, my life was a mess

still is, open the oven and the door
each day, I remember, she's still alive
cunt that I am, that was so long ago
oh, she hated me, with venom, that snake
no one hated me more, yes, my mother
difficult to say if she counts, earthquake
surfing the music store, always other

I was not born in Utica, survive

witness to decades of malice, give up
as an American but not by birth
still, I must be worth exploiting, fascists

if I hold a bundle of sticks, my cup
neither runneth over, nor touches oil

lap of luxury, what was now my girth
only running could save me, anarchists
violent while asleep, remain at rest
each moment, I remember, as a foil

marked as stupid, as unlucky, her hate
yet still makes my head spin, my cats, so sad

left for adoption, ultimatum, fate
in this ugly world, the beautiful, bad
future, left open, or closed shut, a test
each time, I look back, I cry, my loss, strife