Twenty Questions‍

1. I am not a person.

2. I’m clearly more of
a thing.

3. I can be as small as
an aspirin mashed up against
your bleeding gums or
as big as your wish
lofted wordlessly
into the fountain—
it doesn’t matter.
I could fit in the palm
of your hand
if you wanted me to.

4. I am diabolical.

5. I’m the greatest of all time.

6. I am the rock in your pocket
that means that you
are nothing.

7. I am the failed rocket launch,
a love amniotic, a ‘78 Quaalude,
99% heartbreak.

8. I am the sexiest quadratic equation.

9. I am a pleasure to have in class.

10. Am the phoenix rising
from the ashtray
in your minivan,
am your name carved into
a bar of soap.

11. I am the new chord
you once sought to strike.

12. I am not yet paying the bills.

13. I am the ferry zipping
the river shut behind it.
(Unfortunately, I cannot swim.)

14. I was born like a boxer.
I was declawed like a mutt.

15. No, I am not happy
go fucking lucky.
I am luck itself.

16. I’m the Sylvester Stallone impersonator
you hired to pick you up from
your colonoscopy because
no one else you loved was free.

17. I am not your televangelist dream girl.
Who could be? I am the candle
burning up the church.

18. I am Orpehus at the houseparty.
I am not waving back at you
in the rearview as I head
for the highway.
I do not haunt
that house anymore.

19. It’s me: the third martini,
the doorbell to the darkened palace,
counting down backwards
from 100 so you better run
and hide.

20. I am not a person.
Who could be?
I am exactly what
you bargained for.
I am you.

I am.

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