MIRTH DAY

Is this a joke?
This item
you’ve placed before me
this thing you claim is a gift,
a prize,
mine to hold and treasure
from this day forward
this inheritance
that you provide me
…why would I ever want it?

What makes you say
this thing that you’ve handed me
is something I should appreciate
should work to maintain
to improve
to heal.
In the shape I’ve received this lemon,
why shouldn’t I trash it and start fresh?
Why can’t I give it back
and make you breathe life
back into its holey carcass?

Why should this alleged present
be such a responsibility?
No, fuck it. I refuse.
I won’t sign for it.
You can shine this shit
but that don’t make it diamonds.
Keep your thing
I forsake it.
I will not take this consolation prize
that I don’t deserve.