I.

Brain predates flame. Fish’ll
wiggle the net. Swan
in the parking lot– precocious
ego! Always young, forever
pond. The foundation
of every shallow,
labored breathing.

II.

Milkbox, crate,
glass vociferation,
chalk fingernails
the canister and broken.

III.

I understand nothing
but gold and calligraphy
across a diploma. Pretentious–
lift the veil of spider-dress,
eat fish eggs until night
sickness, then Spam
in kitchen cabinets–

IV.

Review of the world:
a loquacious life of limestone.

(originally published in White Wall Review, Winter 2021)