4.
My car won't start
my car never starts
my hands melt through the metal of the engine block
these crude knuckles only make right angles
I can make it sing
massage the lung gaskets
for a while everything is okay
it doesn't seem so reluctant
like I might be able to guilt it into function
it says no politely
the film projector in my chest tries to pat my back
5.
I never slept outside
the serpent shaped trees and all the insects and all the flowers would be too scared
the chainsaws under my fingernails are kept quiet
but sometimes they don’t much care what I want them to do
6.
somebody is on the intercom again
I'm being given directions
but I'm not receiving directions
the elbows hidden under my biceps imagine their day
it involves a lot of not bending so nobody will stare at me
they're still happier than you would think
7.
flickering gray and white and black and gray
maybe a heartbeat
8.
definitely a heartbeat
the hearts at the bottoms of your legs
one cloth sarcophagus apiece
keep going like this
the turtles will never get their rest
the whole city sighs relief at a crosswalk
9.
keep your kids inside
I'm not sure it'll help
but all the other parents will judge you if you don't
it's just the entertainer
he's here to earn the name
can you believe people pay to see scary movies?
