by Alexander Michael Ziperovich

 

little chunks of morphine caught in my teeth, caught in my jaws

always devouring, chewing, these bitter pearls into shards

to no avail, no significant avail

 

quell the fever, kill the fear, embrace the pain

paint dripping down my face, blood clouding my eye

are my crimes crimes? and if they are, am i to be punished when i die?

 

are the world denies it

with all the cold denial of the world

what are we if not inspired; lost in this infinite sea of indifference and loss

what are we?

artists with spilled pain(t)

writers with leaky pens that won’t write

 

where is the beauty?

hidden in a dirty bathroom stall?

where is the beauty?

stealing opiates from cancer patients?

where is the beauty?

where has it gone?

 

and the death of wonder has left me dead numb

i am apologetically me, alexander

as the sun sets on fire in the sky