This next poem is called "The Suggested Face for Sorry."
and the title came from when I was
trying to text someone sorry, and it was like,
do you mean like--
it would be like a face that would be the worst if you were
trying to apologize to someone?
[LAUGHTER]
"The Suggested Face for Sorry."
You and me-- we are the opposite of twins in an old story.
When I am in pain, you don't feel it.
If I up and retch, you never guess.
The city laid out poison along the tunnels and tracks meant
for rats, and one day my dog ate some.
She was fine.
I've never been so jealous in my life.
I want to do the things we do to die and then just take off
sprinting in the steep ravine.
In my dream, I walk my dog, and you cross our path,
and she torques at you and rears and snaps.
She senses, you are wholly bad.
They say animals can tell, like with earthquakes.
You're supposed to scan the classifieds searching
for a sudden spike in the number of missing pets.
That's how you know to prepare.
Maneuver away from shelving.
Crawl to the nearest door frame.
Get out of California.
What are you waiting for?