i saw it happen, once
when he decided not to care
it was the only way for him
to handle expectation
so sweet and young and open
showing all of it and loving, then
a wall, a cipher, blank
as living glass
i saw it happen, twice
when he decided not
to be a boy
the trouble’s all because of boys
every bit of it
and each of them
even those who
weren’t there for it
hear it
time
and again
and now the angry words pour out
in streams and torrents
washing down the city streets and gutters and
in broken limbs and unwrapped condoms kept in
empty wallets chosen carelessly by those who
care less every day
the painting shows the smoking men
boys break
a time to sit fat, ruling
but my heart sees
the bruised and dying
told, as always,
“it’s your job to die” —
for girls are wonders
women are the universe
and boys
are
expendable