“I am fine,” a means to endure 

every obstacle and thought.

 This is me walking myself, the dogs, 

crawling into bed naked, quiet

in my weight. I’m that empty bank account,

the flickering glow-worm in the dark, 

the primal scream of being who I am.

I’m not here, the body speaks at last.

If nothing works, the mind empties

a crate of crabs scuttling into the void. 

Mansplaining blooms like flowers

littering the path: strange people

spread their stench across the globe. 

I remember all the songs afire with hate. 

I have found myself, my boundaries

draw the lines. If I argue for my limitations, 

sure enough, they are mine. So I will

not bother, just smile and say, “I am fine”.