2 POEMS
- I am growing a new brain, without the flaws of my existing one.
- There is no space in my skull to grow a new brain so I am growing it in my chest.
- Once the new brain has finished growing, the old brain will be unnecessary.
- I will discard it into the compost bin where worms will wriggle along synaptic pathways.
- My new brain will come with a new personality.
- I will be more comfortable in social situations and better able to come up with things to say. I will think in words instead of waves of colour.
- I will use the extra space freed up in my skull to store secret possessions: knives, coins, bags of popcorn.
- I will use the extra space freed up in my skull to think of ways to further improve my body.
- My list so far includes: tail, wings, breasts.
- My new brain will come up with so many more.
- I travel back in time to the moment
- I travel back in time
- So two versions of me travel back in time to the moment
- I travel back in time
- So four, eight, sixteen, thirty-two
- Versions of me travel back in time to the moment
- I travel back in time
- I keep going until there are billions of me
- Until there are more of me than all other people put together
- Until I am always touching myself.
Jackson Nieuwland (Wellington, NZ) is melting. Soon they will be a puddle on the floor. The puddle will soak through the floorboards and be absorbed by the earth beneath. The earth is very thirsty; it needs all the fluids it can get.