Her smile
has spinnerets,
shoots invisible strands
that stick to your eyes,
wrap around your groin,
pull you inextricably tighter,
wind you in a gossamer shroud
ready to devour you
in sucking gulps,
and leave you an empty husk.
What if
just for today
you dared to do
that thing you fear?
What if
just for today
whenever you
wanted to say no,
you opened yourself
to yes?
What if
today was the day
when everything
changed?
“I know this guy
who chopped off all his fingers in a blender.”
What? Was he intoxicated? drunk? high?
“Nope.”
You’re kidding. Why would he do that?
“Well, you know, he wanted to prove he could touch
the middle of the chopping part without getting hurt.”
But he couldn’t, apparently.
Shrug. “I guess not.”
Huh.
“Yeah. People from Calgary are stupid.”
.
.
.
Sometimes, I am very afraid for the youth of today.
Oh, back row,
You’re so cool.
Won’t do your school work.
Hang out at the smoke pit.
Drunk all weekend.
You’re
so
cool.
The front row
gets its work done,
laughs with friends,
finds healthy fun.
They will graduate,
get into college
and employ you
at minimum wage.
It’s never cool
to peak in
high school.