—WAKING UP WAS HARD THIS YEAR

 

counter

 

that kid’s

sitting at the counter

counting kidney / jelly

beans in a jar

like they’re

lost lottery tickets

or obituaries 

he don’t know

he’s not meant

to be seen

or seated

because no one’s

colorblind but

everyone’s lying

buying muscle

and the best teeth

centuries of sludge

it’s a party of one

trillion

enslaved or endangered

other boys / girls 

musa and keita

sheeba and nandi

it doesn’t matter

if it matters

and that kid’s

not there

(not really)

but he still

isn't leaving

until someone

says I see you

and someone else

I finally hear you