The phone will not ring.
After days of waiting
It rang an hour ago.
That conversation now ended.
My stomach begins to settle,
Awaiting the cycle of the tide
To return.
Maybe now, I’ll eat again.
On paper it is
All so
Simple.
It really is.
Clear as day and twice as sharp.
What they want,
What you have to give,
It all fits. Or at least you make it so.
But later you decide whilst
Somewhere beneath bedcovers,
To darken the ink a little more.
Make your mark.
Then it all falls down. Because
They do not want the real
You,
They want the list.
For it is the BULLET POINT
The CHECK BOX
That they require.
Your petty humanity can stay home
Thanks.
Maybe it’s intentional -
The cut nose/spite face
Pattern. When
You know
Really
Truly
That you could do better.
But really
Truly
Why the fuck should you
Do better, just for them.