cherry pits / secret gifts

Photo by Sonny Sixteen on Pexels

put the dishes in the dishwasher
place the cups and mugs upside down
place a bowl down for the cat,
fill it up so he knows he’s loved
put your socks on if you’re a little cold
take your socks off if you need to feel free
let someone draw you, blemishes and all
cinch the drawstring, pull out the bag,
and take out the fucking trash
wipe the hair out of the sink
trim your sideburns, they need it
make sure there’s no paw prints on the pillow
don’t look in the mirror too many times
reach out to a friend or two
remember who loves you
eat cherries
but don’t swallow the pits

you fucked it up somehow
you’ve turned the play into work
why’d you have to go and do that?
don’t be a schmuck
this is supposed to be fun
don’t do it for attention
don’t do it for a name
don’t sell yourself out
because of faulty pride
you don’t want to see the fucking price of fame
remember that you like it
you don’t just like it—you love it, actually
it brings sizzle to your days
there’s the snuffed out…