Loneliness nags like a knife
spreads like butter
all over my burnt figure
scrapes crumbs off
screeches and grinds
Loneliness steeps like lemon tea
sits and sits
burns my tongue
the honey sinks to the bottom
and then drains all at once
sickening, like cough syrup
Loneliness swells like an anthem
seems so victorious
independence, they say, is a joy
the tuba swallows me in its hollow refrain
I can’t seem to find the melody
Loneliness rocks like a grandmother
back and forth on a chair
can’t seem to find stillness
in a room all alone
the fireplace crackles
the creaking continues
and on and on
Loneliness breaks like a cracker
bitter and salty
crumbles to pieces
breaks me to pieces
Loneliness soothes like a gas
the kind that makes you forget
it fills up the room, silent and
deadly
you breathe it in and you hum as you smile
suddenly giddy
don’t worry, tonight
you’ll remember again