dead bug
pretend you’re a may beetle
or a june bug
and somehow
you’ve found your wing casings
upside down on the floor
suddenly becoming immobile
now with your legs
in a tabletop position
stretch one out & down & back
repeating & alternating right & left
both arms reaching toward the ceiling
later allowing them to do
what they will
as if you are dying a slow death
february two thousand twenty-four
copyright j matthew waters
all rights reserved
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