i eat the same thing 

everyday because
banana & peach & measuring cup. i crawl
into a bowl. i crawl out. 
i thump a spoon
against my tongue. 
i scrape a fork across
the sidewalk. i drag my nails through 
a patch of dirt & stone. i eat the same 
thing everyday because of ribs 
& the centipedes they suggest. i eat the same
thing everyday because of something
my parents did that i can't remember.
i buy shovels to try & remember. i go to
a supermarket full of orchids to try
& pick something new to eat & i meet 
all the more-beautiful people who eat
only flowers. they put samples in their mouths
& wait for the petals to dissolve. 
there are white-pink orchids 
& purple-yellow orchids & orchids made 
of glass. people carefully sliding 
each face into their mouths. i eat
the same thing everyday because 
the supermarket tells me to. i eat the same
thing everyday because i have hands
& i can't imagine living like these people
who eat flower after flower.
i stay at the store for hours not to browse
but to watch people eat. they seem like
they have never used utensils--
that maybe someone has always held 
a flower & told them to open wide.
i tell myself to open wider &
i think of the way snakes unhinge 
their jaws. i want to unhinge my jaw
& eat everyday--the whole fucking day.
no minutes left ticking in the dirt
just a gaping whole where the day 
was supposed to be. they offer me flowers 
to try & i refuse but they insist.
they say the flowers will 
make me feel better-- that i would be less 
morose if i ate more flowers.
i eat the same thing everyday because
the sun is loud & as indecisive as me.
i accept a flower & stuff it into my pocket.
i set the flower on my kitchen table
& cry at the flower who doesn't know
how to cry back. i tell the flower i eat
the same thing everyday because i'm scared.
i tell the flower i eat the same thing
everyday because rain is turning 
into seed. the supermarket snores 
loudly so i open my window & tell it 
to please please stop 
that i am trying to get
some rest so i can wake up 
& eat the same thing tomorrow.