The sea rose,
a basswood tree
restlessly kept;

perhaps, in due time,
won’t it fall?

It’s wood,
perhaps,
it would.

I was tied to the train tracks.
For all the horrible things I didn’t do?

I had a small knife.
What’s the point?
It’s dull.

I could try,
but it’d be endless.

It started as a rumor, that morning.
By my last class, gym,
it was the fourth time they pushed me.

What’s the point of getting back up
if it’s dulled to happen again?

I’d let them,
especially him,
crush my skull until I died.

The funny thing is,
the rumor was true.

I did have a crush on him.
I was just a boy.

when we taxonomically



think about the world





we become blind







to our humanity

I shouldn’t have opened the box,

because Hope was forced to hope for all evil.


I shouldn’t have checked to see if the cat was dead or alive;

it wasn’t—the hammer didn’t hit—but it starved to death.


I shouldn’t have replaced all my ship’s parts,

now I have two, but the original is still broken.

I keep pretending that you don’t want me,

Because that would be a reason to stay.

So if I find a reason to leave, I’ll be gone

By golden hour, without a message or note,

Without even any goodbyes.

The glimmer in your eye
          doesn’t shine the way I remember.
There’s still kindness in your gaze,
          but it feels hollow.
Your eyes look worn,
          like you haven’t slept in years.
Do you even remember
          who you are?
Still I give you the coffee
          that you might love more than me.
So I can sleep next to you
          while you stay up at night.