Do I make you feel uncomfortable? I’m like
an instruction manual. If you don’t follow
the directions to the letter, you’ll be
*******. You might think

you’ve “got this” until you realize
your way over your head. What’s black and white
on paper in the sun turns ***** red. It’s the way
you assemble the varying parts

whether it holds together
or falls apart. It’s time-consuming and
frustrating these intricacies. Things
don’t always turn out the way

you think they should be. Sometimes a part
is missing that goes with something else
and nothing can get accomplished without finding
its mate. You look for a substitute

out of your tool box of tricks. But it’s
in vain. Because if it’s not exactly the same
it won’t adhere. I’ve come to the conclusion
there’s failure in substitution.