1. STOMACH: THE NOUN, THE VERB
LET TODAY BE DAY ONE OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF ALL YR PROGRESS SLOW DEATH IMAGINARY MAGIC THAT WILL COMPRESS DEEP BREATH PRESSURE BUILDING UPSIDE YR HEAD TO DISTRESS KEEP THREAT LEVELS RAISED BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE NO MATTER HOW FAR I AM ALWAYS ON MY GUARD YEAH I’M A DEVIL’S ADVOCATE I ADVOCATE FOR EVIL SHIT I BLESS NO IDOLS AND I ONLY RIDE ON THE REAL SHIT I MAKE NO FAKES ABOUT NO COMPROMISES ON THE REAL MISS I BAKE A CAKE FOR ALL MY ENEMIES I GO FOR REAL BLISS WE ARE HURTLING THROUGH SPACE UPON A SPACESHIP EARTH TRYING DESPERATELY TO ESCAPE AND REPLACE OUR PLACE OF BIRTH AND TRYING IN VAIN TO RELIEVE OURSELVES OF THE DUTY TO BE BRUTALLY REAL IN ALL OUR ACTIONS AND OUR WORDING AND HONESTY’S THE BEST POLICY HONESTY’S THE BEST POLICE BUT HONESTLY IT’S EASIER TO LIE AND GO THE FUCK TO SLEEP KEEP MY NAME OUT OF YR MOUTH IF YOU THINK THAT I’M JOKING MANG HA HA I’M GHOSTING NOW EAT THAT. LET TODAY BE DAY ONE OF THE LAST TIME THAT YOU EVER LET SOMEBODY ELSE RUN YOU WITH UNTRUTHS THAT THEY POST UP LIKE THE FLYERS IN A COFFEE HOUSE BATHROOM FOR FUCKING REIKI YOU CAN GUN THROUGH GUMSHOE IT’S A TYPICAL MYSTERY BUT IF YOU WANNA SPAR I AM ALWAYS ON MY GUARD YEAH I’M A DEVIL’S ADVOCATE I ADVOCATE FOR EVIL SHIT AND WHEN I SAY IT’S EVIL I MEAN IT COMES FROM A DEEP DARK PIT AND WHEN I SAY A DEEP DARK PIT I MEAN DOWN TO THE ESSENCE LIKE THE ANSWERS THAT I GAVE ON THE BACK END OF THE QUESTION WE ARE DRIVING FASTER GETTING FASTER ALL THE TIME FUELED BY GAS THAT HAS BEEN PASSED AND MASTERED FROM THE LAND BEFORE TIME FUELED BY THE ASSUMPTION THAT ALL PROGRESS STILL GOES FORWARD TILL THE ZEPPELIN EXPLODES AND IT’S HUMANITY AND HORROR HONESTY’S A BLUEPRINT THAT IS STILL UPON THE DRAWING BOARD WRITTEN ERASED ERASED AGAIN AND WRITTEN MORE MOTHERFUCKERS TRY TO MANUFACTURE IT LIKE HENRY FORD FUCK THAT I’M JOKING I’M GHOSTING. LET TODAY BE DAY ONE OF THE FIRST DAY OF THE REST OF ALL YR BRIGHT DAYS DARK NIGHTS AND THE GRADIENT THAT FALLS BETWEEN THE LOW LOWS HIGH HIGHS PRESSING ALL THE TIME BETWEEN THE DAWN AND TWILIGHT IT’S NOT A SIMPLE BALANCE BETWEEN OPEN WOUNDS AND SCARS I AM ALWAYS ON MY GUARD YEAH I’M A DEVIL’S ADVOCATE I ADVOCATE FOR EVIL SHIT MY HEART’S THE DARKEST ORGAN THAT I’M CAPABLE TO DEAL WITH AND IF YOU MAKE ME LAUGH I CAN CONNECT YOU WITH THE REALNESS BEFORE I RETREAT BACK INTO MY FEAR OF BEING HEALED WITH WE ARE WOUNDED PEOPLE WOUNDING PEOPLE WITH OUR SHAME SHIFTING FACES SHIFTING PLACES WHILE WE SHIFT THE SHIFT THE BLAME TRYING NOT TO PANIC WHEN OUR ORGANS ARE EXPOSED BY THE FOG THAT GETS INTO THE CRACKS IN ALL THE WINDOWS AND HONESTY THE PRACTICE OF GETTING RID OF YR EDITING HONESTY’S A CRACKLING FIRE TO SHED YR EGO IN DON’T ASK THE QUESTION IF YOU DON’T WANT THE FEEDBACK I’M SERIOUS DELIRIOUS I’M GHOSTING NOW EAT THAT.
2. THE DUST THAT GETS IN
CRUISING UNDER THE ALL SEEING EYE METANOIA KNOWING FULL WELL THAT YOU MEET IT AND IT WILL DESTROY YA THROWING CAUTION ON WINDY DAYS LIKE A PARACHUTE THAT’S MOWING DOWN OPTIONS TILL YR REALLY ONLY LEFT WITH TWO (OOF) AND THE CHOICE IS IMPLIED IN THE WAY THE QUESTION IS POSED THE DIRECTION IS SKY HIGH AND YOU CAN SEE FOR MILES THIS ENTIRE VILE EMPIRE HAS PULVERIZED OUR MINDS LIKE EVEN WHEN THE SHOW’S OFF YOU THINK OF THE CHARACTERS THEIR EMBARRASSMENTS AND VICTORIES AND OTHERWISE IT CONJURES EMOTIONS EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE LESS THAN GHOSTS INTRODUCED BY THE HOST WHO CAN BOAST THE MOST ROAST EVEN WHEN IT’S TURNED OFF YOU CAN FEEL IT BUZZING IN ONE LEG IN THE OTHER LEG IN THE MIDDLE OF MY OBLONGATA IT’S IN THERE SOMEWHERE AND I’M NEVER GONNA STOP TILL I FIND IT FOR SCIENCE OR COMPLIANCE OR SOMETHING LIKE IT. THERE IS A CRACK IN EVERYTHING THAT’S HOW THE DUST GETS IN. THERE IS A CRACK IN EVERYTHING THAT’S HOW THE DUST GETS IN. LAYERS AND LAYERS OF PEARLESCENT IRIDESCENCE SEE WHAT I MEAN ABOUT THE ANSWER THAT’S IMPLIED IN THE QUESTION DAYS AND DAYS AND MONTHS PASS LIKE GRAINS OF SAND CONTAINED IN A MIXED METAPHOR THAT’S CONTAINED IN AN HOURGLASS FAST COWARDS PEDDLING SOPHISTRY FOR HOURS HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO MAKE PEARLS FROM THIS MUD HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO BELIEVE THAT JUST ONCE THE FACADE WILL BE PUNCTURED AND TURNED TO DUST AND WHEN YOU ZOOM IN FAR ENOUGH YOU SEE THE DUST IS US WHAT IS DUST TO A PEARL WHAT’S A PEARL TO A MODERN MAN WHAT’S A MODERN MAN TO A WORLD CHURNING UNSTOPPABLY IN PROGRESS TO A PROMISED LAND WE LINE UP FOR ROLLER COASTER DEATH SPIRALS WE LINE UP TO GET EATEN BY THE BEAST TO BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO DIE IN ITS JAWS EVEN WITH THE LIGHTS OFF YOU CAN MAKE OUT THE SHAPE AND IT REMINDS YOU OF YOU BUT YOU CAN’T BREAK A PEARL TO FIND A SPECK OF DUST THAT’S NOT HOW IT WORKS.
3. OLD BLUE EYES
UP IN THE AIR IT’S A BIRD WITH EMPTY EYES CAUGHT IN THE STARE OF A BIRD WITH EMPTY EYES (EMPTY EYES) HOW DO YOU FABRICATE THE SPARKLE HOW DO YOU PUT A PLAN IN PLACE TO LAZERFACE THE MUNDANE DAYS DEAD BORED AND WHEN YOU TAKE AWAY THE TOYS IN THE CAGE RAGE DEMONSTRATE THE EDGES OF HEADS BORED DEAD HYPER INDIVIDUAL HEGELIAN FUCKING LIBERAL HYPED BY A HYPE MAN PLAYING WITH A NICE HAND THE LOGICAL CONCLUSION OF RENTING ALL YR DREAMS IS EVICTION NOTICE POST IT NOTES THAT POP UP ON YR SCREEN AND WHEN YR TIME’S UP THAT IS THE END OF THE LINE HUH HOPE YOU GOT A GOOD MEMORY CARD RIGHT IN THE BACK OF YR MIND BRUH IT’S THE OTHER BLADE EDGE OF YR NOT WHAT YOU OWN YOU RENT YR SELF AND WHEN YOU MISS A PAYMENT YOU ARE GONE AS WELL CALL IT FRESH HELL UNDER THE PREMISE THAT THEY HELP YOU HEAR THE TOLLING OF THE BELL THAT IS THE END OF THE FIRST ROUND. LOOK AT THE GROUND IT’S AN ANT THAT’S IN A LINE LOOKING DOWN AT ANOTHER ANT THAT’S IN A LINE (IN A LINE) HOW DO YOU PUNCTURE THROUGH THE NOISE HOW DO YOU PERSEVERE AND SEE THE FUCKING CAGE THROUGH THE TOYS GODDAMN THE BLANKET’S SOFT THOUGH ISN’T IT THE PILLOW’S COLD JUST A LITTLE BIT I COULD FALL ASLEEP RIGHT HERE FORTUNATELY FOR ME I NEVER SLEEP I JUST HEAR THIS REFRAIN RINGING IN MY MY OLD BLUE EYES IN A BOWTIE KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON SEVERAL RELEVANT FOCI FIRST LINE OF DEFENSE THE PRETENSE OF BEING ABLE TO EXECUTE A SEQUENCE DRINK CLINKING LOUD WHILE I THINK ALOUD IN A THICK CLOUD MY OLD BLUE EYES NEVER WANDER FROM THE WOUNDS LIKE I WAS A FUCKING FIRST RESPONDER. LOOK OVER THERE SOME PEOPLE IN A CAR WRECK RUBBERNECKING AT AN EVEN BIGGER OTHER CAR WRECK (CAR WRECK) FULL STOP WAITING FOR THE FIRST DROP ROLLERCOASTER SLOW ROTISSERIE BASTED IN THE WORST STUFF GOLDEN RULE DON’T SHIT WHERE YOU EAT UNLESS YR POOR SILVER RULE DON’T PLAY WITH A HEART UNLESS IT’S YRS BRONZE RULE KEEP PAYING THE RENT IF YOU WANNA PLAY BALL COPPER RULE LEAVING GREEN STREAKS UPON THE PAYWALL.
4. OPEN LETTER TO HOLDEN CAULFIELD
INTERIOR NIGHTTIME SETTING OUTRAGEOUS HERE IN SIGHTLINE NERVE CUT THE FACES DEER IN HEADLIGHTS I SWERVED AND JUST MADE IT DON’T SAY SHIT ON MY BEHALF I CAN REPRESENT MYSELF I’M CAPABLE OF MANY THINGS LIKE FINDING HOLES IN FENCES TRIANGULATING PLACES WITH SATELLITES AND PATIENCE REGULATING MY BREATH SO I DON’T SWEAT IT’S ONLY MAGICK IF IT WORKS AND THEN YOU HAVE TO FACE IT IT’S BASIC INTERIOR NIGHTTIME TIGHT SHOT EYEBROW BEAD OF SWEAT LIGHT SPOT ON THREE GET DOWN SOUND OF BARKING RETRACING MY STEPS BACK TO SOME KIND OF FREEDOM LIKE I MEAN IT. FENCES ARE SUGGESTIONS PLEASED I DISAGREE WITH BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO I KNOW FENCES ARE SUGGESTIONS PLEAS I DISAGREE WITH BUT WHAT THE FUCK DO I KNOW FENCES ARE SUGGESTIONS FENCES ARE SUGGESTIONS. EXTERIOR NIGHTTIME HAVE YOU EVER RUN FOR YR LIFE SHOTS FIRED INTO THE AIR MIGHT AS WELL BE FIVE FEET OVER YR HEAD AND EACH STEP SENDS A SHOCKWAVE OF PAIN TO YR FACE YEAH HEARTBEAT ALL YOU HEAR HEARTBEAT HEARTBEAT. EXTERIOR NIGHTTIME AN EMPTY PARKING LOT ALMOST AT THE EDGE OF TOWN WHAT TOWN AT THE END OF A PLAN WHAT PLAN GO HOME GET SOME SLEEP IF YOU CAN YOU CANNOT UNSEE THIS SHIT NOT EVEN A LITTLE BIT OUT.
5. FIGURE 8
I CAN SEE A PLAGUE COMING DOWN OVER THE HORIZON RAYS OF THE SUN NOT THAT HARD TO BUY ONE TRIVIAL SATISFACTION MINIMAL EXEGESIS CRITICAL FACTS BECOMING FICTION ON THE TICKER TAPE PARADE OF FACES PLACES ACQUAINTANCES SO ALIENATED I’M NOT PROUD WHEN I SAY THIS I LIVE IN IDEATION BATTLE IT LIKE A BATTLE OF WITS RATTLE AND SPIT SAVAGENESS INTO THE SKY MY PATTERN IS A PLAGUE STARTS WITH THE SKIN EPIDERMAL AND TURNS INTO A RUMBLE IN THE GUT LIKE A HUNGER THE LONGER YOU WAIT TO SATIATE THE GROWLING IS THE SAME TIME FRAME IT TAKES TO ESCAPE FROM THE HOWLING AND WE ALL FALL DOWN WE ALL WEAR MASKS WE ALL WEAR CROWNS MACHINATIONS OF A SMALL TOWN PUT A RING AROUND THIS AND WHEN I SAY WAIT JUST… BACK IN MY DAY EVERY KID WANTED A BARCODE NECK TATTOO TO STAND OUT FROM THE OTHER BARCODE NECK TATTOOS BLEEDING INTO BLUE BLOCKS BLACK BLOC GRADUATION BLACK TUBE SOCKS SMART SHOES SENSIBLE SURELY GO TO BED LATE THEN I’M UP AGAIN EARLY OTHERWORLDLY IRIS SCAN UNLOCK ALL DEVICES THE BARCODE IS ME BUT I DIGRESS THAT’S ANOTHER DIGEST TIME IS PRECIOUS LIKE HEAVY METAL OR A CUTE PET TAMAGOTCHI GOTCHU SORRY I’D LIKE TO STAY AND CHAT BUT I GOTTA LET THIS PLAGUE LOOSE AND IT WILL BE HARD CAUSE I LIKE YOU IN SPITE OF YOU IN SPITE OF EVERYTHING THAT YOU MIGHT DO DOESN’T THAT FRIGHTEN YOU THEY SAY YOU ONLY GET WHAT YOU PUT IN DON’T PRETEND YR FAKE FRIENDS ARE MY ORIGINAL SIN. DRAW A FIGURE EIGHT ON THE GROUND LET THE HEADS ROLL SCREAM LIKE IT’S FUCKING HALFTIME SUPERBOWL HALF LIFE POWERBALL PUT SOME SPIN ON IT ROPE A DOPE DIAMONDS ARE RARE BUT SO ARE FUCKING ISOTOPES BOUGHT INTO A DREAM (A PLAGUE ON YR HOUSE) UNDERNEATH THE DUST (A PLAGUE ON YR HOUSE) EVERY POISON TONGUE (A PLAGUE ON YR HOUSE) EVERY LAST ONE (A PLAGUE ON YR HOUSE) IF YOU BRING INTO THE WORLD INSTRUMENTS OF DOMINANCE I WILL NOT REST UNTIL THERE’S A PLAGUE ON YR HOUSE IF YOU BRING HUNGER TO YR SISTERS AND YR BROTHERS YOU WILL PERISH WITH A FUCKING PLAGUE ON YR HOUSE DRAW A FIGURE EIGHT ON THE GROUND DROP TO BOTH KNEES HANDS IN THE AIR AND REPEAT AFTER ME SAY THERE IS NOTHING ABOVE THERE IS NOTHING BELOW DRAW A FIGURE EIGHT ON THE GROUND IN THE DARK LIKE THE PAW OF A BIGGER MONSTER BEING MARKED LIKE A MAW WIDE OPEN WHEN YOU SING SING HARD TILL YR TEETH FALL OUT […] I HAVE A RECURRING DREAM WHERE MY EYE COLOUR FADES AND SKIN SINKS IN GETS TIGHT AND MY VOCAL CORDS DUSTED WITH CHARCOAL LIKE I’M A SELF-CONSUMING CARBON-BASED LIFEFORM AND IN THE DREAM I’M CAPTIVE BUT GIVEN ONE CHANCE TO COMMUNICATE SO I HOLD UP A PAPER WITH THE DAY’S DATE AND INSTEAD I DON’T SPEAK I JUST LEVITATE AND ON THE WALL BEHIND ME THERE’S A FIGURE EIGHT.
6. SUMMER OLYMPICS
IF I WOULD’VE KNOWN THEN WHAT I KNOW NOW I WOULD’VE DEADED MYSELF NO DOUBT HOLD YR MOUTH THE BEST MISTAKE YOU EVER MADE STILL TO THIS DAY I’M LOOKING FOR THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT BLADE I SAY IF I WOULD’VE KNOWN THEN WHAT I NOW KNOW I WOULD’VE SWERVED THE OTHER WAY ON THAT DARK ROAD HELL NO I WOULD’VE MADE AN EFFORT TO LIVE EVERY DAY TO DEATH, TO CROSS OF EVERY BULLET ON THE LIST THAT WAS LEFT I SAY UP IN THE LATE DAY DOWN IN A BAD WAY CLOWNING ON THE LAST MOTHERFUCKER YOU MADE PAY ZERO SUM DECONSTRUCTED ARGUMENTS HARDER THAN IT SEEMS FUN WHILE IT LASTED FLARE GUN STARTER PISTOL POP LIKE A BIT OF MEAT ON THE CHOPPING BLOCK ALL THE WAY TO A FINISH LINE THAT ENDS WITH A… NON-LETHAL BUT NOT NON-TOXIC I LOST IT LEMME KNOW IF YOU COME ACROSS IT. I THINK I LOST IT LEMME KNOW IF YOU COME ACROSS IT. IF I WOULD’VE FOLLOWED YOU INTO THAT FOG SEE IT WOULD’VE BEEN LIKE SOME KINDA WEIRD REVERSE FALSE PROPHECY SEE LOOK ANY WHICH WAY YOU SLICE IT I WANNA BE LIKE A HAMMER BUT I END UP LIKE AN ICE PICK AND THAT DON’T SLICE SHIT THEY SAY LAUGHING IS THE BEST MEDICINE BUT I’M RETICENT HEADWINDS GOT ME RUNNING HARD TWO STEPS AHEAD OF THE FOG BOGGED DOWN LIKE A DEAD PRINCE AND NOW A FROG IF I WOULD’VE SEEN THE CEILING PAINT PEELING THE FEELING IS MUTUAL A STINGING FINAL SUTURE PULL THERE’S NOT ENOUGH THREAD IN THE WORLD TELL ME DIFFERENT TELL ME TWICE NICELY WHILE THE LOOSE ENDS TIED UP THE RIVERBED DRIED UP THAT SUMMER I MEMORIZED EVERY CONSTELLATION THEIR PLACEMENT WITH REVERENCE CEMENTING MY PLACE AS A REVENANT YEAH. I THINK I LOST IT LEMME KNOW IF YOU COME ACROSS IT. THIRD VERSE SAME AS THE FIRST TWO THINGS NEVER TURN OUT THE WAY THAT YOU EXPECT THEM TO BUCKLE UP MANG THAT’S HOW THIS COOKIE CRUMBLES IN THE FACE OF A PLAGUE I AM PERFECTLY HUMBLED STUMBLING TOWARDS A FINISH LINE FOR THE LAST TIME FULL OF CONTAMINANTS AND THEY’RE ALL MINE YEAH YEAH YEAH I SAID THEY’RE ALL MINE YOU CAN HAVE THAT JUST MAKE SURE YOU DISPOSE OF ME LIKE I’M HAZMAT THIRD VERSE MAYBE THE LAST ONE MAYBE THIS MIGHT BE THE LAST VERSE OF MY LIFE IT’S BEEN GOOD FUN YEAH I’VE HAD A GOOD RUN NICE RUNNING INTO YOU THANKS FOR ALL YR INTEREST THINGS HAVE BEEN RATHER DIFFICULT AND I DON’T SAY MUCH BUT I STAY PUFFED I SUGGEST YOU DO THE SAME WITH THIS CAVEAT (SAME, BRUH) IT’S NON-LETHAL BUT NOT NON-TOXIC THE LINE IS RIGHT HERE AND IT’S ON YOU IF YOU CROSS IT.
