The Rent I Pay
Published in the May 2019 issue of The Write Launch Literary Magazine
poetry
in the freezing rain
the trails are
littered with
owned or owed
portions of my mind
a brain trying to supply
itself with expectations
tongue turned poised
to carve
eyes aching for clarity
blades of thought
twisted inward
deep in debt
with nothing left to give
to my slumlord
of decomposing falsehoods
I have banished
over and over
deception, I name
you my preaching cheat
there’s a Judas among me
I empty piles of me
into these woods
a temporary installment
with interest
the rent I pay on these lies is steep
on my way back
the rain
on the ice
rather sounds like applause.
The Rent I Pay
Published in the May 2019 issue of The Write Launch Literary Magazine
poetry
in the freezing rain
the trails are
littered with
owned or owed
portions of my mind
a brain trying to supply
itself with expectations
tongue turned poised
to carve
eyes aching for clarity
blades of thought
twisted inward
deep in debt
with nothing left to give
to my slumlord
of decomposing falsehoods
I have banished
over and over
deception, I name
you my preaching cheat
there’s a Judas among me
I empty piles of me
into these woods
a temporary installment
with interest
the rent I pay on these lies is steep
on my way back
the rain
on the ice
rather sounds like applause.
