Fred Aiken Writing

Tag: Poetry

pumpkin seeds stuck in between my teeth because I read somewhere

that they would make me smarter, or maybe stronger

or maybe they were supposed to make my poetry sound more profound,

but I can’t seem to get past the fact that they always get stuck in between my teeth,

and so I don’t think I’ve ever really digested their salubrious effects

fast food dreams killed on site

and told to not resuscitate, do not make it worse

by letting it continue on,

barely hanging on to sodium thrills and the delight of sugar mountains

pouring over concrete as a heavy syrup courses through veins

made of silly putty in form and form-less alone

you need to look up,

don’t stare straight ahead,

back a few places,

not that far, closer,

pace it better, straight up,

then to your right,

a little to your left,

up, down, left left right,

all the way down the hall,

and you’re there, destination on your right,

rest easy,

now go to sleep,

you can thank me later