texts.katyism.com

Today’s meal will include the observation 
that someone has abandoned their oracle
on the dining table - also served: 
a soggy turkey sandwich on cold
and slightly chewy whole wheat toast- 
for dessert will be grapes, and loneliness
as I perch on the third step of the 
front porch and think about all the people
I know who don't mean anything to me.

This is me, watching my life cycle by.

Last night, I would have given anything 
for a straight answer as I tried to fall asleep
to the sound of his voice - tense and high pitched
telling me about all the things that I do
wrong, and all the ways that I could 
fix the problem at hand
- as I see it- 
the only problem right now is him, 
shouting incessantly while I shake with sobs
and whisper "all I want to do right now is sleep"

And I am less than I used to be 
when I still believed that there 
were people who could understand me- 
and now I'm beginning to realize
that my mother wasn't the only one
who abandoned me - I find that 
being alone isn't as bad as it seems...

My friend, I have to thank you for our yesterdays - 
to know that someone still appreciates me... 
And to be part of a conversation for once
instead of just an audience to fairy tales- 
was more than just incentive to break away
and remember myself - it was proof enough 
that the problem never was with me.