Pre-Boiled

they could call me schizophrenic
for the ways I am keeping myself
alive—I stopped being human at
two in the morning.

my voice grew hoarse from
talking myself awake
instead of counting sheep
I send them to the slaughter
instead of night sweats
I wake up soaked in memories.

I was left to boil
in a pre-rusted pan
though after I settle
I am blamed for the rust.

Eight-Legged Eviction

the only way to solve a spider problem
is to treat them with sarcasm
ask them to stay the night.
like any toddler they only ever want to do
what you don’t suggest,
they package their hurt feelings on their backs
and move to taunt the next house,
usually apologizing with bitter biting
until they lie—underboot

at least she sleeps

Some girls pave the road with
getting even but end up getting
lost,
somewhere between he deserves it
or I did
or they all had it coming
she gets it back
her heart doesn’t heal
she sleeps in sleeves bigger than emptiness
but at least she sleeps

she takes pills bigger than her eyes
and her eyes are bigger than her stomach
and her lungs are smaller than her
cigarettes

she inhales
but at least she sleeps

Originally published in the 2015 FACETS at the Butler County Community College.