What if those were all your teeth on the floor.
What would you say if your dream came true.
You move through the tunnels of me
you are the toasted odor of decay.
Something is always about to happen.
Why are scary things sexy. Why are doctors so tall.
If the future is a roller rink my skates are white
& my smile is white & I am dead & I am
couples skating to Cypress Hill.
advanced healing. it is a science. skin
grows over the door jamb. the belt buckles.
let’s pretend we’re texas. we’re an airplane.
losing parts. we are a fiery death. I commission
a band. of soldiers. to kill you. the birds sing
cartoon greens. that I hate you. oh my dear.
the rabbits in the yard. scatter at the engine start.
don’t back into the gas tank. what if the seventies
happen again. what if everybody gets happy. quiet
times are when we sleep. in other states. for a little
while. the phone is broken. no really.
Bronzed breast bone. Rattle rattle.
Even the air tastes like metal.
Mercury glass. The backs of spoons. Poor Brooklyn.
I-beams sway to comfort me.
All of Poland has turned out to hold my hands.
Gently weeping wolves. The tender hare.
I am disloyal to my own tears.
Thank you for breaking up with me
in the park. Now I get to hate
trees. Each dead leaf has a special meaning:
Death. Sleeping is a long slow fight.
Night makes breath sad clouds.
Dark breaks around every sound.
Each time the phone rings I remember who
I am. I'm Lauren Ireland.
I thought I told you to shut up.
LAUREN IRELAND