I Am Desperate to Waste Things
by Kelley Hess
Minor destruction makes
my mouth water
makes shattering a perfect
egg on the floor
ovoid to slippery
pool become invention
like finding a fat gold coin
even for a survival
expert like me there’s
always a leap of salt
in my palms
for the ruin of
a watermelon or birthday
cake as it splits
into pure texture
to be felt with
something besides a mouth
suddenly in seeing
a snag in fabric
with two hands
and no hesitation
unzip one into two
create a cusp of a thing
and exceed it
a before and after
crisp relief
lunging forward
a taste of alignment
or as soon as
a snag in fabric
the loneliness
of gratitude for
being given back
your life
only to realize
that this means
your mother
will, once more,
die before you.
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