SMACK!


PAPER SNOWFLAKES ARE NEVER SYMBOLIC
Angie Lellig

The "emotional spigot of the world" he said about himself,
or rather his character
or are they one in the same

just like two names on paper
yet to be separated but that's me
-the emotional spigot-
turn my head and the world's feelings come
pouring
out of
my gut like so much waste water and field run off
is that why our basement flooded every year?
I can't stop it-
I can't stop feeling everything a hundred times over
but in the same second
-I used to cry when Sally Struthers came on TV-
or the guy at the gas station paying for cigarettes in change
pennies,
nickles,
dimes,
Icriedforthepoorbeingpoormyselfdidn'tmatter-
And if I could would I turn back my head so the flow stops
and I only feel myself deep down inside-
so I can only hear my voice admonishing my stupidity
and not her's
screaming the norms when she's not it either
why can't I help who I am
even if the world laps at my feet like so many tidal waves
only smaller - like a speck of dust infinitesimal and silly far off
because we think we're not alone when we may not be
but are too self centered to know otherwise
except through TV shows and movies
that may or may not be Happy Meal toys
when will it end?
Never-
I just wanted to be myself even though I don't know who she is
almost all the time
except at that final moment just before I wake up
like this morning
when I swore I felt his chest beneath my cheek
but it was only blue gingham sheets and blaring alarms
because getting up is normal and feeling isn't-
not when it's the world coursing through you veins
even though everyone should realize it's in them too.
   

o:


Poetry

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