Lugging the corpses of cast- aside ideas, 
false starts and failures across a finish line 

To find you still have to keep walking 

No arms to lead you to rest 
No waiting water 
No way back to start except to retrace steps 

No way but more walking 

Be grateful, mantra to mind 
perpetual 
releasing 
still comparative 

Grateful 

But- 

Hush, yourself, you think with 
Hissed mind trails 

God damn it 

Gratefulgratefulgratefulgratefulgrateful 

Fake artistry and 

impostured awareness 

Call your careful broke 
and your indulgence fat 

Gratef- 
Can’t even finish the word 
the symptom sticks 
in a medicated throat 

Perpetually swollen 
so words can’t get out 

Grate- 
On nerves of perpetual 
agitation 
edges filed and polished 
with more care than 
hair or teeth 
Most used tool 
lives in the front of the drawer 
of the borrowed house 

Gra- 

Fuck it 
Live the selfish 
Can’t hate it more 
And at least it’s honest 

Alyssa Herron is a writer and actor, a mom and a poor fort builder. Her words live at www.darkyarnproductions.com. Her inspiration for this piece: Well-intentioned but pathetic white feminism.