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.