
ONE: REQUISITE
I.
​
Ambition is a sin
if and only if
you have made the unfortunate mistake
of womanhood.
​
Otherwise,
congratulations.
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II.
​
bruises of rejection fade
with the passing of each dawn—
and yet failure’s silver blade
never from her heart was drawn
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III.
​
Tomorrow will find me
Folding gently into myself
To escape the withering gaze
Of yesterday
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TWO: REQUITAL
IV.
to witness suffering
​
I cannot tell
when I witness suffering
whether
I feel it
deeply, profoundly,
​
Or
Whether I do not feel it at all
​
​
V.
What am I doing wrong?
I have several
theories
and no one I trust enough to ask
​
VI.
​
Meaningless apologies
​
I am so sorry
that you are dying
and there is nothing I can do
​
I am so sorry
that I come here every day and just watch
as you struggle to breathe
​
I am so sorry
that I have grown
un-moved
by your cries of suffering
​
And I am so sorry
that I have made Your Pain
about Me
VII.
​
I am tired
of being so fucking exhausted
VIII.
anatomy of a physician
​
cold hands
warm heart
dead eyes
book smart
​
tried to care
was told no
tried to leave
could not go
​
​
IX.
late winter suicide
thank goodness
february is only 28 days
there is rarely a
february that does not
make me contemplate
whether
I’d really rather go on living
​
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THREE: REQUIEM
X.
​
what if life is the thing that
keeps on living
​
and we are only here
to hold it for a little while?
there are worse things to be
than a vessel.
​
​
XI.
my most prized possession
​
the tangerine-colored pill bottle
on my bedside stand
that holds
the small white tablets that
have turned my apathy to contentment
and they say you can’t buy happiness
​
XII.
​
Once upon a lemon morning,
dipped in amethyst Delight,
Gratitude set to adorning
Beauty like an acolyte.
​
Justice wore a wreath of primrose,
Virtue donned a crown of dreams.
Water cool as noontime shadows
danced in Daytime’s winding streams.
Like the dawn, Creation gathered.
Like the dusk, Belief advanced.
Like the evening, Truth and Time stirred.
Like the nighttime, Wonder danced.
Once upon a burning morrow,
rising like an amber flame,
Righteousness took hold of Sorrow,
Dignity defeated Shame.