Humans evergreen and hibernating 

Enclammed in concave spinal cords, eating

Hunched over hot-white blasting computer screens 

Mirrored like iridescent, plastic beetle wings

❧

These bug shells lined up, dried out on the window sill

The common house spider, butterfly, silverfish

Clawed up in static pose and pawed at by kittens 

Leg raised muscles cry atrophy— placating

❧

Slick crack; an exhale everywhere from beer cans 

‘Nother day like the last, and the other before that

❧

Sirens sound

Echoes rouse 

People from their homes to the streets

Shielding their eyes

As they step out for

The first time, seemingly

I turn over 

And peel away in gummy slug spit strings 

Look back over my shoulder 

The mattress made a mould out of me

Photo by Lavi Perchik on Unsplash