disappointing pasta
unusual pizza
skittish kitty

clockmaker dismantles me
firm hand on the back of my body
off comes my cover
deft fingers fiddle with my gears
clockmaker reassembles me
shines me up
places me in her breast pocket
I am warm and safe

touch me
encase me
put strong hands on my arms
squeeze me tightly
wrap me up

I’m foggy gas
without a container
escaping into the universe
dissipating
disappearing

I’m a fishbowl
full of water
in a car on rough terrain
sloshing around
water everywhere

keep me contained
keep me whole
it’s nagging discomfort
I’m close to tears
but I’ll be fine

we all sat at the stoplight
it stayed red
the gardener honked
one car went
and then another
it was illegal perhaps
but everyone did it
just as I got up
to make my decision
it turned green
and I avoided choices
and their self-image consequences
what a lucky save
continue to avoid reflection

wiggling my toes
thinking about things
being very happy

kneading for eternity
he hasn’t stopped yet
it’s why we get along

nerves
from here to Mars
nothing to do
except get hugs
and wait it out

15 hours of people
of pushing myself
to be heard
to be seen
15 hours of “ON”
of smiling
to be nice
to be friendly
10 hours too much