I don’t know how to do this, to fall on the point
of other people’s swords, cleaved open by prejudice
refusing to die. I lick my wounds like a sick dog
and wait for the cycle to repeat itself—
head eating tail eating life eating liberty eating
the pursuit of my happiness.
I cannot love this demon, it is not mine to bargain
and beg with, so other than myself as I see it reflected
back to me, while I stand behind the counter at work
and wait at red lights for traffic to move
onto wherever it’s going.