April 7

No pound of flesh now
but a pound of breaths

to be repaid
ruthlessly

unreasonably
but legally–

peculiar to lose
so much sleep

expend so much
grief

over something
intangible

pixeled numbers in
an online ledger

here and gone
quick as that

no action
required

I think I might
prefer the pound

of flesh
at least

it can put up
a fight (or flight)

numbers
circle my head

like dizzy
cartoon birds

(or flat-eyed
sharks)

it depends
on my mood
.

which depends
on whether

or not I’ve
remembered

to breathe
but do I even

own that
if someone

else owns
me?

OPTIONAL POETRY