LURED BY GRAMMAR 

I’m here to say Good luck charms work 
If you like to live a good life 
What harsh truths do you prefer 

Let’s say the difference between justice and Jealousy is purely emotional distance
Let’s say you can save another’s life and don’t 

Do you think your future self is yours 
When do you reveal limitations and how do you reveal them
Do you think everyone who never suffered be like 

If not, no worries 
In the future, let’s 

With that in mind, 
If I had to hazard a guess, 

Is it right or wrong the most likely way you will die 
Shrug, what are you going to do 
An answer might be “yes” “no” “my adhd” 

Do you think some people 
are just good at fixing things 
Who here has the nicest butt 
What is your biggest regret 

What lie have you told in your bedroom 
What is the naughtiest thing the silliest thing 
The grossest thing you’ve done 

O, your body 
Is yours to fear 
Serenade the person to your right 
Embarrassing! 
What is the weirdest thing you have done 
To be someone’s pet 

Tell me 
Is it true that you (whatever everyone suspects you did) 

For the next five minutes let’s do a magic trick 

Describe every person in the room 
Make each one of them smile 
Lick the floor until you can’t anymore then do one more 

You’re a piece of trash, weeping, 
Beg and plead 
Let the group look on 
Use your best salesmanship
Do you really hope your parents never find out
You never told anyone 

What is the meanest nickname 
two people can give you at the same time
What is the cruelest joke 
you would never do but have 
When was the last time 
no one else found out 

Tell me something you don’t want me to know
Why did you say it in an accent 
Well, keep going 
Wailing is encouraged but won’t hurt you
Do you wish you didn’t exist 

Let the person to your left leave you
Pose in an embarrassing picture 
Like no one is watching 
Just in case: 
What is the stupidest thing you've ever done 

You can’t kiss 
Are you self-conscious 
No talking 
Pretend to be magic 
Disgusting to those who never loved you
I don’t know try to drink a glass of water
Act like whatever

SALT RUBBING 

Here? On thin snow? I pine 
Describe to me your favorite memory of horses 
Everyone has one 

Damned if you do, bored if you  
Don’t tell me to 
Calm down and I won’t 
Drop a pin where I am  

Going I have no plans to spare the rod where I am  
Going will suffer greatly from what I carry 

Thou suitor’s a hoot 
Give it up for him–really *applause* 
Did this not bloom overnight? 
Everywhere I go–true story– 
Everyone always asks about dying 

I hope nobody I know ever dies and when they do I want them back as horses in a circle all  around me

Caroline Gormley is a Texas poet. She co-edits Flag + Void alongside Logan Fry and Matthew Moore.