How To Cry In Public
Drive the car drive the car yes the light is green flick the signal
Turn turn the wheel onto Hesby street yes
Yes almost there almost at the garage here we go just
Gotta park just pull in the spot ok ignition is off now
Breathe,
Now breathe,
Breathe; now,
Step out and don’t forget your dog
Oh god a person’s there you can’t cry yet you can’t cry yet
Don’t cry yet don’t cry yet ok now you’re in the elevator
Which means you’re one step closer – one floor closer –
And now the doors are opening and run but don’t drag
The dog
Unlock the door unlock the door the goddamn key is caught
Ok!
Now cry!
Come on now, you’re alone now (except the dog) so do the thing
Already, cry already, cry, come on now cry –
Texts Sent, Never Meant (With Translations)
to be honest i didnt your tidal descent begins and
know i was going to end may never end.
up liking you this much
i have never met someone like you i’ve had four beers now and
that makes me nervous i like you i do but
maybe im getting a lil too also i miss my manhood
deeep and my roommate is
reading into much laughing at me for
overthinking ruminating on your face
just freaking out a when we should be
teensy bit internally getting high like kites.
you are one of the most tomorrow I will tell you
confident, driven, down something that will shatter
to earth, creative, and your tattered soul.
passionate people I’ve i’m just a tramp really
ever met. I am honestly I am
endlessly fortunate to i’m no good
have ever met you and i’m poisoned soul food
no matter what i’m
happens, just know that so sorry but
you have inspired me i shouldn’t feel guilty.
tremendously. you believe me, right?
Beware
A wayward home
Won’t shatter any bones
Found
askew and errant.
Consider all things odd.
They are fine things, but you’d turn them down
By way of lists; the worst
American language.
Micro-manifestos like this
Turn friends to histories, and statements to sagas.
Frankly, the
Majority of maps should be short, like
Live reports; things you’d read on the train.
People particularly like screen names. They are
Instructions; home-brewed recipes of resonant stories.
Truly great philosophies
Are found
In the whiz-bangs of wayward souls.
This is a found poem. Source: tl;dr magazine submission guidelines.
//
Stepy Kamei is a freelance writer living in Los Angeles. She holds a B.A. in Linguistics from San Francisco State University, and her poetry has appeared in Calamus Journal.