realized
Written May 2023.
I found myself on sale today
in the perfume aisle
(yesterday, It was
on an advertisement for skin cream)
sealed inside a little bottle
containing an aerosol perfectly formulated to
suppress those noxious scents
emitted by the body
throughout the day.
This was the perfume meant for me
out of all those on the shelf—
recommending themselves based on
height, hair color, the curve of my lips,
personality (am I flirty? commanding?
"open to experience"?)
and so many traits I had never realized before—
all packaged conveniently so I can
FEEL HOW I WAS MEANT TO FEEL
(just like that girl on the box, the one
with a smile just like mine).
Know yourself—
realize It, (so you can
recognize It, so you can
express It,) so you can
consume It.