small tangent

the language of thought

i want to let you in to my mind
where there are no sharp edges
no corners or holes
no empty spaces or missing pieces

ocean and sky grow into one another
as each wave turns seashells in its fingers
taking them apart to build something new
and every tidal pool contains a lifetime

fields of flowers bloom overnight
on yesterday's decay
they grow tall, seed, and die
to begin again tomorrow

the landscape embraces itself
opening outward like a leaf
unfolding inward like a breath
there is room inside for the universe

i open my mouth to explain it all to you
and out fall single petals
quickly wilting in the air
turning to dust as they touch the ground

i try again and produce insects
buzzing, snapping
they leave us to tap against the windows
they make clicking sounds and static
and settle inside lamps

i shake my head and start over
out rise bubbles, fragile, shimmering
which shiver and then burst against our faces
or make wet spots on the ceiling

and when i grow frustrated
ball bearings bounce and roll
shiny and hard
we chase them and lose them under furniture
days later you find them in your shoes

my words pick like birds at the truth
mindlessly collecting
pulling out the things that can be grasped
leaving the universe behind