I.

Can I just be like the mothers 
of the 80s and the 2020s, 
and blame Manson 
for the cocktail of pills 
I shoot back in the morning 
and the caffeine I snort 
during the two p.m. slump.

II.

I told my mother 
I’m still a virgin 
and she sounded 
just as disappointed 
as the day we came home 
the next day after revealing to my dad 
she knew about his affair.

III.

I say I am scared about the pain. 
In reality, 
I’m just sparing 
the world from more of me.