2022

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