Only paint when the weather is just like this,

Don’t bother remembering their names because

They will always tell you, everything in your hands

Is a hammer, no part of any animal should go to waste

Not even the ears, a spoon is just as good as a knife

If the insides are soft enough, if you carve along the spine

There will be less blood on the newspaper, twist it fast

To break its neck, you need to realize when you are too old

To love anyone else, don’t reminder her, don’t insult her mother,

Don’t look the dog in the eye if you don’t want it to come over,

Keep your feet, don’t put anything in writing, don’t drink 

Ever, don’t smoke in bed, read the obituaries early in the morning

So you forget by noon, leave the radio on loud when you go for a trip,

Never answer the door, never answer the phone, never leave food

On your plate, shoot it in the head, always be sure you have a good shot,

Get as close as you can, and never hesitate. 

ERIK CARLSEN is a lifelong Tacoma resident and is pursuing his MA in Poetry from SNHU in the fall.