Friday, May 16, 2003

during the lunar eclipse, amber was talking to me
about how we, as women, are
connected to the moon
which is why her cat can't stop licking herself
and why my period came early
and why i feel like shit suddenly
not even chocolate can make me better this time
i tried that
and sucked down so much mocha that
i burned my tongue raw
and rediscovered that i don't like raspberry
everything that i normally find mildly annoying
or just something that happens
is magnified tonight:
the guys at the cashier talking LOUDLY over the open-mic poems
hey, you work here. you fucking host this event. shut up.
and yeah this goes to everyone:
i can't stand it when people refuse to pay attention
unless it's one of their friends reading
or they take their own poem up
that really makes me question why they want a turn anyway
they can't expect to get people's attention
i guess they just like the sound of their own words
echoing through the mike
oh, is that the case, then? how nice + selfish of you. shut up.
so tonight, because no one else would, i. shut up.
it had been going great like usual
but you know it's this damn lunar eclipse
that makes me delve into my coffee
as my people pair off
it's weird, in the middle
with familiarity still so close inside and friends across the street
amber stops blurring because for once she's standing still
lecturing me on the moon
i have had similar talks from mom and several authors
this is different from mom's abrasive loudness
and different from black print on a white page
because they've got it all wrong
the moon needs to be white print on a black night
but amber makes it okay
and paul finds a couple seconds to say a few words
before they've disappeared
that's okay, i've got Lisa Marie in my mug
and i can stare into the sky some more
and pretend not to be looking around to find out
what's going on inside, across the street
better check up and see how they are getting on without me
i ask Lisa Marie why
no matter how hard i try
we keep coming back here
and i know it is just me
and i know it's in my head
but doesn't someone notice that i'm missing?
jealous: his arms around her and teaching her to salsa
when all i get to hear him say is "stop touching me"
abandoned: she can't take the time to
string 10 words together for me
when that is all i am asking for
asking + asking + asking + i have nothing left to give
i tried to give her laughter and hugs
but my throat is just burned and empty
and my arms are just pale and empty
so she can't say i didn't try
pissed off: if making other people happy is what makes her happy
maybe she could have us on her mind a little more
and maybe when she asked "again?"
she should've stuck around for the answer
i missed a lot of what happened above the surface, back on land, tonight
i think i will only remember Lisa Marie
and maybe Laylee's lap, amazing perfect hugs, and
the most comforting words: just "i love you" over + over
because coming from her
it has to be true
and i believe her and i trust it
when it's time to go
i almost get left behind without a ride
because no one remembered to tell me when they started piling in the car
because, by that point, they didn't remember that i was even there
thanks, guys
your consideration has made my heart so happy
Lisa Marie loves you
in the car they ask in between words, like breathing up for air
backwards -- under the surface
"are you okay?" punctuating every few minutes
actually not really but what kind of question is that
and since i'm not okay why should i want to be interrogated
i appreciate the thought ––
in fact i'm glad you noticed me at all
and am i okay?
"yeah"
because questions are too complicated
and if you can't tell
then you can't help
it's easy for me to blame this on the eclipse, you know
a weird spell, never again, etc.
but wouldn't i be lying, at least in part?
because i'm too familiar with this place
to pretend that a natural phenomenon alone can send me here
look how dirty the welcome mat is
where i cried tears in my head that will not come for my eyes, will not comfort me
look at the paint chipping off
where i threw lamps and plates at the walls, like in a movie
look at the deep dent in the big couch
where i sit in my mind all alone every day
and i am fully aware that i'm exaggerating
i guess my friends love me
but right now, with the doors closed and the windows sealed, i can't remember
and no one has knocked yet to get in

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