Next
Hybrid
by Kristen Garcia
blood
spills into creases
to the outer edge
of mouth
fresh proteins
glistening
from inner soul
I wonder why
the painted clown
has a red smile
I wonder
why a tear
if I could paint
emotions
I would paint
the lamppost
near the street
then neighbor
and neighbor
could see
they would imitate
my own painted mouth
painted eyes
cringe
at the mix
of blood, happy
why paint my face
why insert a smile
a life
can’t content mean calm
can’t my lamppost read
sleeping
and when I do sleep
let me dream of
wiping my lips clean
and when I wake
let me see the world
dirty