by Alex Rost
I crack an energy drink and suck
that carbonated caffeine all
up in me, hear the echoes of
my kidney’s cries, down there
bitching their usual bitching—
“This fuckin idiot!”
“It’s called a monster!”
“Add to the stones!”
I tell them to fuck off, dare them
to quit on me, double dog dare
the motherfuckers to fail, and when
I light a cig and my lungs let
out their resigned sigh I say,
“That’s what I want.
That’s the attitude I’m looking for.”