нẸ 𝕀𝐒 𝔲ρѕ𝔱ⓐ𝕚яŞ

I miss my son
(he’s upstairs)

I tell him
I’m proud
and have no evidence
it matters to him at all

listening through open windows
and across yards
to my neighbors making breakfast
pan full of bacon loud and clear

calling out of work
with a bad case
of just don’t feel like it

oh I am tired
I am weary
I could sleep for six or seven hours

went for a run and remembered
that I love life

laying totally motionless
after lights out
my kid scolded, “hey, stop making noise,”
referring, presumably, to me breathing

you can just decide to spend
the rest of your life in a certain way

in some ways it would be a relief
to see my life leveled

somersault
down the hall
very slowly

Crow Jonah Norlander lives in Maine. He’ll be up soon.