Catoptrophobia Poem by L'Angley S Delmonte

Come now, you're acting like
You're something
Revolutionary.
So proud of the books you write like
It's your own goddamned language.

It only hits so close to home
When he says those things because
You're a liar.
You're a liar.

I feel so sick
From all these words
All these things that aren't.

In a room full of dead
Skins
Yellowing
Tightening
And it's sick
They're all tapping against
Their metal boxes as
As they move they

I spent the afternoon deadheading roses.

What is this thing…
Growing inside of me?
Tell me
Please, tell me
Even though I don't
DESERVE THE TRUTH.

At least I
You can't even admit that
That you

It's just
Phosphorus and cardboard
Growing, growing!
Or
Is it deeper?

I know I'm not supposed to
When I could be
In the world doing something
'great'.

But great isn't lying
And that's all you
Can
EVER
make excuses to do.

What is this THING
Inside of me?
Tell me it isn't
Tangible
Tell me it isn't
What you told me
It was.

Tell me it's a lie

I know what it is now

Ticking, ticking, and it's
Getting closer and it's
Orange and all those-
Please, just tell me, I-
Make it stop
Let it die
Wilt
Away
Fade
Please

If it's part of me
Then
Let it live because
Come, now, that's not
Appropriate to say!

Let me burn,
Let me break.

Make them all go away, please?

In a room full of dead
They
They
Seem so…
Alive
They
What is this thing
Inside of me?