There’s no way to tell what one could have been.
There’s no way to tell what one could have been.
SEVEN DISTRACTIONS BY SUSAN BRUCE 34THPARALLEL MAGAZINE ISSUE 26
1:
The storm works
hard, hums along.
No matter how
well-connected
so-and-so deals
with a mental disorder
beautiful mouth
curved downward
medicine stained.
2:
My mother bursts
into iridescent
cyclopean tears.
3:
A waterfall is good
at everything.
(Ken Chen refers to
himself when he asks)
The main question is
How do I write
and manage
my self-loathing?
4:
Find someone who will be
transparent with you
sleeves rolled up.
Remember the face
that shines
at the sound of your voice.
5:
Sometimes after dressing
you change your mind
and change clothes
and then get mad
at your clothes.
I get mad
at your clothes
and then we have sex
without clothes
to get even.
6:
My breath is a blizzard
of ruffles. One-at-a-time
my breath looks good
on you,
passing through.
7:
There’s no way to tell
what one could have been,
rather than this, that
heart of it all
after all.