forest beaudet To Whom It May Concern grey lajoie

To Whom It May Concern

by grey lajoie

To Whom It May Concern: I have chosen to retire from the business Of fathering artificial trees. The scent of the molded plastic Sticks to my clothing and to my skin Even after a long bath. And women have begun to regard me With looks of disgust When I pass them in confined spaces Airplanes, bathrooms, grocery store aisles, Etcetera

My Reasons Are As Follows: At night, when I’m alone in the factory I can hear praying. And I think of the cool green skin Of a child’s army man, Heroic figurine, burned down For my rubbery leaves. And through the hissing and popping I make out something silent, hanging From his melting lips rubbing together As tiny plastic arms outstretch Like paranoid plant stems.

I am getting better at reading his lips But it can be unsettling Looking into his little placebo eyes Until he is frantic and faceless.