you didn’t get nearly enough sleep last night
you told them to go away
you wanted to rest and dream
you needed some play time
a minute to relax and feed/ to breathe

you felt intruded upon
they took your mind in their palm
squeezing and bending
it ran out through the spaces between their fingers
then filled you back up
a penny, an ice cream cone (pink)
meanwhile, made love to you in the street as a parade marched by
twisted fingers through your hair and melted you there

then they swallowed the meal
you digested yesterday
and told you that you had just
better get down on your knees
and pray

all you ever wanted was to walk in the rain as sun-faced girls giggled

they told you that you had already been spoken for
other plans had been made for you
someone climbed your mountain
and positioned their sturdy flag on top
a long time ago
(there is no hope left!)
that’s what they told you

so you walked over to your night table
- the one beside your bed
and opened the tiny drawer
- the one you’d hoped to never open
pulled out a small - shiny - pistol
- the one you never wanted to eat
and restaked your claim