the circle of mess

i wrote a poem who cares (might delete later)

Last Friday, we had all the grandparents come to visit for Wilder’s second birthday. It was great and also a lot. At some point during it all, I wrote this. Scholars tell me its ‘a poem,’ though idk, I’m no shakespear.

'The Poet' by Reynier Llanes (originally was titled “The Poet’s Butt lol”)

You are a child

Your parents clean
like if they don't, the house will go up in flames,
or it's on fire already,
and the only way to put it out 
is to vacuum.

Who cares if its messy!?
you scream,
while eating a bagel with
egg and salami. 

Why can't these so called friends of yours
the mendersons, due any minute,
know the truth?

Why hide
who you really are?

You are an adult:

Sweating,
wet-wiping
the Jackson Pollock 
made of trash
inside the cabinet. 

Have these always been here? 
You wonder, when ding.

Dad Cell: 
Landed. 

Your car is washed
the oil is changed
the gas is pumped
wait

the seats of the car. 
Another Jackson Pollock
this one, of milk.

You're already late, but 
you stop at Target 
and you buy seat covers. 

One for the passenger seat, 
where your dad will sit.

And one for the back seat, 
for your mom. 

Why are you doing all this?, 
your wife asks.

If they knew about our mess,
you tell your wife,
they'd clean it. 



When you were young
and screaming with salami 
in your teeth,
your parents said you'd understand,
when you were older

Nope.
You still have no idea
why they did it
why you're still doing it, too.

Let’s move on quickly before things get awkward!

aaaaaaaahhhhh

YAMA / MAYA #2 is tomorrow (friday)

Join me tomorrow, Friday April 27, for an epic question-and-answer event I'm calling YAMA/MAYA (You Ask Me Anything, Me Ask You Anything). How’s it work? I’m so glad you asked.

All of my beloved paid subscribers can ask me anything about and by golly gosh darnit hand to heart I will answer them.

BUT it's not that simple - I will reply with an answer, yes, (a really good one, even) but I will also include a question for you. See how that works? It's you and me, my friend, questioning and answering together.

If you’re still confused, check out the first one we did here:

You've heard of the AMA (ask me anything), wait till you hear THIS:

I'll send out the link to the thread Friday morning around 8am PT, so keep an ear to your inbox for the rustling of questions on the wind.

Also, a theme

I want to try having a topic for each month in case it helps people think of stuff to talk about, but you can truly ask anything you want.

This month’s topic will be…FAMILY (and the crowd goes wiiiild).

Comments

1. do you write poetry?

2. are there genres of creative work that scare the shit out of you?

3. who are ur fav poets or whatever?

4. why did I have to say ‘or whatever’ there like I was a sophomore in high school?