Photography by Pip Murphy-Hoyle

Looking like a sidepiece at 33​​​.​

Outside, 33, just above freezing

​​​liquid water falls from the sky

periodically​​. A​​ ​table, flat and firm​,​

holds lunch: more chemicals in food​​—​

now​,​ more than ever, it lasts ​forever.

Shitting out other things that eat

sunlight and trap carbon forever.

A book: ensnared, tied with twine

around outstretched fingers,

weaving (this is called) in and

out, secrets, stories, outside of

your dirty shoes ​are​​ the real you.

They rest on your porch. You are

inside. A child. Palliative care.

Lying inside a pallid tub​; ​lying,

rinsing everything else off​​​.​