Monkey Mind

The damn monkey mind bites its master and smashes the cage

escapes

breaks into its empty home

Steps over leftover pizza and empty beer cans

turns the tv on and off

goes to bed and wakes seconds later

turns the tv on and off again

Runs to the sticky city

into the arms of someone

whose name they won’t remember

Like a child with a new toy

drunk on distraction

Scales a tree of self-esteem

glances at its reflection

jumps from branch to branch

rejects every hand it sees

‘Asking for help is for the weak!’

Craves the numbing nothingness

won’t quiet down

no matter how many times the trigger is pulled

Loves a good excuse

plays on monkey bars with fellows

exiled and disowned

destructive to itself and others

The morning sun taps it on the shoulder

a flurry of phone notifications

low battery

cracked screen

time to go through it all again