Something
in the way
I spoke tonight.

Play a song
to numb
my brain.

Camouflage
my overactive
mind.

I don’t know
how else
to say it.

I’ve said
too many
sentences

to too
many
strangers.

Said
too many
personal things

to too
many
people

in the
driver’s seat
sometimes.

And sometimes
I walk back
what I say.

Sometimes
I am calm
and quiet.

Sometimes
I talk you
off the ledge,

show you
the books
I’ve written

to tell you
I am
special.

You just
wanted to
take my order

and I
blurt out
things like

I live
in a
sober house

and I’m
five months
sober.

Said I was
paralyzed
by alcohol

And you
said Oh
like EDM?

I told you
what my
tattoos mean,

described
them all.
I’m sorry.

I wrote
too many
poems.

Idiot savant
with too
many things,

too many
special
interests.

I think it’s
a trick,
a tic,

or maybe
I am
autistic.

Or maybe
I think
too much.

And this
is just
another

poem to
a beautiful
waitress

and
I shouldn’t
write

another
sentence
about it.

 

Jason Wright is the editor and founder of Oddball Magazine. His column appears weekly. His third book, Train of Thought 2: Almost Home is available now at the Oddball Book Store.