jdubqca

on hiring a mystic

at the bottom of the résumé
included the applicant’s hobbies
one of which was aspiring mystic

I cocked my head
and went back to the beginning
questioning my own judgment
—all of the mistakes made
my secret sins
the killing of so many possibilities
past & present
& future

how wrong could I have been
passing by on this piece of paper
as if it was as dead as those sea scrolls
(only to be revived)
as if once passing onto my desk
was most certainly destined for the fire
like a witch exposed
like a bird made out of clay





january two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved