The Fetal Uncurl

this state
of mind
of Virginia
this
state
of hunger
of need
yearning
agonizing
depression passed
down through
family
this state
of
being
mean

this state
this storm

this
coming and
going

this pattern
this stuck thing
this thorn
this splinter
in your foot

this occasion
this opportunity

this man
shouting when
he should be
talking
or being quiet

this state of
agitation
this sound
this suggestion
this tree
falling
when no one
is around
to witness
this
pain in
collapse
this syntax

this vibration
in this sneeze
and this
stranger’s
blessing
kazuntite

this dead
of night

this state of reality
this police state
D.C. still not
considered a
state
but
still great

this need for
organization
this need
for order
this dependency
this doctor prescribing
this new thing
this new addiction
that you can no longer
do without
here is your new water
here is your new air
here is your new year

now it is time again
to pay taxes
to fess up
to confess sins
to convince the jury
to impress the girl
to face the world
for the fetal uncurl
to walk the straight and narrow
to become upper class
to outlast and surpass
to crush all their pawns
knights and rooks and kings
and queens and
to chose and live with
consequences
to live in tight spots
to open pandora’s box
to sleep on
bed of nails
to be shaken to some point to
a new state
to awakening
this undoing

this state of
being forsaken
this state
your state
no one else’s
of being devoured
sleeping
in the belly of
a corporate beast
of Satan
Al-Qaeda
Aunt Jemima
terrorist or tourist
or florist
self interest
flourish

this garnish
on this plate
this enemy
of state
this anarchist
great divide
this great possibility
this expanding pride
this moment
this right now
this very here and now
this surprise punch to mouth
to show you how
this getting out of the house
devout
en route
water from a spout

this flowing
this undoing
of a whirlpool