I catch myself looking at a face
that never asked to be here
and now has a faint red rash across
its forehead, canines stabbing
their way through unknowing softness,
earthquakes of rage shaking bones
when its lips can’t catch up
with the thoughts in its brain.
A train drives by and the face
allows itself to forget everything,
it understands nothing but smiles.

© Carl Burkitt 2022