women will never get
close to you
they may start out
interested
dazzled by that first impression
but eventually they will see
through the cracks in your skin
and notice how bare and hollow
your bones are
and that all the words you say
are nothing more than
the bones rattling (crackling) together
and they will realize the inevitable
that you are a twisted creature
feeding on itself
like a snake that devours its own tail
but they will say nothing to you
instead they will wait for the day when it all ends
and then hand you
your ring, your sweater, your apartment key
as though they were handing
you back your rotted and black teeth
pulled from bleeding gums
and they will go on
without even giving you a second thought
or backward glance
and that is why you will always
be alone

04/25/2003

Posted on 04/25/2003
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