Dextroy

There are pathways i open up behind my ears —

stretching for miles, but i tread them without fear as

Gnarled hands wander like prayers across my temples

incensed thoughts float, and the future comes to resemble

the present — gift wrapped like a religion bought at 10 dollars a taste.

The body cannot survive on bread alone so

We take tabs of communion on the tongue. Mom

never said faith or life would be this fun.

But maybe she doesn't notice it.

I never realized the difference

between stupidity and exploration.

Never dreamt i'd leave

terrestrial grounds for the space between silences.

And for my own part,

i never admitted fading,

Insanity is a small price

to pay for a brief reprieve

from one's own distortion.

My head has flushed out

nascent falsehoods through spiritual abortion.

I'd rather row then wade across

the baptismal waters of experience,

glide over all the hard times,

give sober notions a chance.

But belief is earned and

never given so i glance

before jumping, swim

before i drown, guzzling

down the chemical waste

that you find so damaging.

I say, "Settle for divinity

when life is too much."

Because we only

sin against ourselves

and create our own gods.

(From the collection Delirium, Delirium.)