little shreds of hope

// it’s all grapes and oranges.

Do you cry gold?

Cheeks left metallic and the taste rich. I read over the bulletin board, the fault is on me, I can’t decide between grapes and oranges. Why should I decide whether I take the hanger or not?

My skin should fare well; age will give it the boot. It will take wrinkles in time too seriously, redness fade, paleness overtake it. If I walk into that office, the protestors outside will hold signs and shout at my stomach.

I can’t wait to get this out of me, Too young to take care of myself, It’s just grapes and oranges, All oranges and grapes.

// pass out hope like gum.

Tatters of ambition, that’s all this is. Give a sliver of light, but don’t pass out hope like gum. Before you know it, you’ll have none left for yourself.

Neighbors will cry for help. You’ll give all you’ve got and forget you have a casserole cooking. You won’t walk home that night; you won’t have a home that night. Give a sliver of light, but don’t pass out hope like gum.

Your mother will tear herself apart for you, bleed for you, give every last shred to you. It’ll be an investment, with hope, it’s all hope. She does it for your good, and you won’t understand why. Give a sliver of light, but don’t pass out hope like gum.

// you’ve got me all wrong.

I’m sorry if you’ve let me in already. I’ve buried myself in you, Burned my way through your head. I’ve lied and created a part for myself. You thought I was a kindred soul. You’ve got me all wrong, It’s all wrong,

I’m a sheer dress, A pirate with legs longer than my lifespan, Eyes that are slimmer than the books I’ve read. I am the voyage to Salem’s lot, The only one to make you doubt your next lover, A sadist who took your trust, And the lover that made you crawl.

// manifesto

Your empty eyes scan the morning; You still can’t believe it’s the end, The nightshade blesses you.

This love is over. Nothing remains but slivers of hope, It’s all surprising, It’s all ruthless, It’s all ironic, It’s all intent, It’s all grapes and oranges, It’s all hope, It’s all wrong, That’s all it is.

Recounting how it fell apart is easier than trying to stitch it back together. I drafted your heart away with me; it wasn’t ready for war. It’s going to be hard to miss us when we were only little shreds of hope.