220 Milligrams of Naproxen

FIRE!
there is FIRE s p r e a d i n g
from my chin to my ears
along the side of my face
pressing on my tongue
IT HURTS to move
cant lie down
cant sit up
the lumps are like golf balls
sitting above my neck

220 milligrams of naproxen
down
my
throat
pulled by the water
to dissolve in my blood

thirty minutes go by
forty-five
sixty

220 milligrams of naproxen
WHERE do you sit
will you really do ANYTHING?

AH! Relief comes on like the tide coming in
Slowly at first
But then suddenly, I realize
the golf balls are back to almonds.
I can talk again.

220 milligrams of naproxen
got me back
on my feet.

Stovetop

the element glows,
red and pretty.
i want it.
but it's hot;
the electric glow burns.

but it's still pretty
and i still want it.
so i try again.
and this time it doesn't hurt.

but the coil is stuck.
i can't pull it out.

so i try again
but the heat's back.
and it burns.

but it's still pretty
and i still want it.
so i keep trying
to pull
it
out.

Note: this is incomplete, but I wanted to get it down before I went to sleep. Also not sure I'll get back to it, but I have plans for it.

Into the Jungle

Creepers and weeds bar the way
into the jungle before me.

I can weave a path
around the branches
through the fence that blocks me

Or hack and slash my way
through the dense, overgrown brush
that would be easy to find again.

As I try to decide
I slip my knife
from its leather sheath at my waist.

The sunlight glances
off the polished blade
penetrating the dark green leaves ahead
distracting me from my reverie.

I replace the knife
and buckle its case
as I push a vine out of the way.

As I take my first step
thorns grab at my clothes.

My pants snag and tear;
my shirt and jacket are next;
but I force my way in
past the resistance.

As I move farther in
I collect cuts and scratches
and let the woods close behind me.

I'm shut in now.
I don't know if I'll find my way out.

But it's not uncomfortable in here.

Emotion Extraction

It sticks inside,
All around.
I can't get it off.
Time to concoct
that protein solution
again.

So I push play,
and let the rhythm collect,
and let the molecules bind,
and let the sticky dissolve.

Then I pull out the plug,
and watch it seep out,
and it leaves me clean.

And it leaves me empty.

topsy, turvy

topsy, turvy,
the wave crashes
and the boat lists.

topsy, turvy,
the boat tilts
and the passengers slip.

topsy, turvy,
the deck becomes ocean
and we're floating in the sea.

the topsy, turvy
world begins to shrink
as the walls close in.

the topsy, turvy
juices rise
and break out.

A Highway at Night Part 2

The fog has
cleared, and now
all I see
is empty road
ahead of me,
so I press
on the gas.

The world outside
becomes a blur.
I must be
in a Toyota
because the pedal's
stuck, and the
brakes have failed.

I've lost control.
I should see
my exit soon,
but I'm moving
so fast that
I think I
might miss it.

Ocean Gray

The crisp, cool wind
blows in my face
as I look out at the sea.

I walk along
the rocky shoreline,
staring at the gray water,
and I suddenly realize

I'm lost.

So I jump in,
lie on my back,
and look up at the cloudy sky.

And I let the current carry me
home.