i'm not that rust on the grate
i'm not that rot
with or without, i'm never Never
well, never say never;
never for now
--
the slow rush of winter surprises all,
snaps
birds into place,
pins
the darkness down,
tilts
us farther from
--
sexual validation,
leveling up a video game character,
biases confirmed,
emotional vindication,
another glass,
another lie,
the softening emoji,
planning escape,
fantasies of
worthwhile fantasies,
constructing a ruin
to spec
--
the black year yawns to swallow
purpose in its death-like dreaming
and life flickers away on the breaths of
all who speak their truths
