How long
to tolerate pain?

Many weeks
this cavity, severe,

this hole
turned wolf on me–

no more arguing
when they say go!

Problem is,
my philosophy’s

the way
the flag blows–

west to California,
no, east, no, Midwest

now. Transplant
for a transplant,

my flag flies stink
-bug, flatland,

swamp.

(originally published in Erothanatos, Summer 2021)