QAnon childhood inoculation

squinting

into nightfall

pink/orange

on gray clouds

eyelids

tired of trying

gum

grows tasteless

throw it

out the window

mom said, Albert,

if a bird eats your gum,

it will expand in their belly

and explode

for a silly moment

I feel remorse

and then tell myself

I’ve never seen a bird

drop from the sky

with an exploded belly

and this too must be

an old wife’s tale

1-28-23