Excerpts from "Ostensibly Shingles"

Darcie Darcie Darcie Darcie

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Day One November 23rd:
"the rash remains.

symptoms include headache and feverishness.

frequent naps, tire, and bitchiness as well."

November 27th:
"visit to health services established the rash is going away. verified that blood work would have to be done to diagnose shingles. it is pretty well accepted that it is shingles.

my therapist as well as my roommate’s therapist are very concerned.

the rash was christened “steve” early this afternoon. the agreement was reached after a similar response over the phone. by nightfall, steve has reached a brownish color. steve’s swelling has also decreased. however, olive, steve’s sidekick remains a pinkish color and raised texture. olive resides to the left of steve, bordering the left of the body.

tomorrow is the last day of pills. ointment awaits."

December 2:
"steven has disintegrated into a slight discoloring. shingles symptoms fade.

an overall feeling of less grumpiness prevails. a satisfying nap between the hours of (approx.) 6 to (definitely) 9:54pm was a key component.

waking up to a potent amounts of frankincense developed an intense dry throat. discomfort lingers

a loud, scratchy cough appears to be developing. juice helps, but i think the only antidote is time. penicillin?"

- Ostensibly Shingles -

Darcie Wilder

You've Become Austin Scarlett!!

Katie Returns!!

and then

oh scary scary doll face scary scary doll face. and i'm not cool enough for you.

chucky 4:

attack of the scary hipster doll

i just got the finest of payback ----  for months of Hurt Feelings.

scary doll.

C

Crumpling dollars crunching bones creeping you out

To be in a world without Consequences

Or creationism, but that has nothing to do. Except for you.

Critical Crash Landings

"i was walking on feet
just like my fathers
and my knees were trying to reach you
at your mothers
cause my nose was screaming that you
smelled like a lover
but my hands were happy to treat you
like a brother then" animal collective grass

TRISTESSE / JOIE c'est comme ca

The magician apologizes to the audience -- he forgot the magic rope for his rope trick. BUT, luckily he had chicken for lunch, so he'll use a chicken bone, say a magic word and turn it into a rope with a knot in it.

The magician shows the audience the magic box inside and out (er, a Kentucky Fried Chicken box would work well). He can also let them examine the chicken bone (if he's comfortable that no one will break it).

The magician places a chicken bone into a magic box. He says abracadabra but nothing happens. He considers for a moment (consults his magic puppet or assistant if he has one) and realizes he should have said Alaka-chicken.

He places the bone into the box again. He reminds the audience to help him remember the correct magic word. He waves his magic wand over the box and says Abraca-chicken!

Oh no! (either the assistant or the magic puppet or the audience can point out that he's used the wrong magic word again).

What can it mean? What happened? The magician looks nervous and tells the audience that Abraca-chicken is a very advanced magic word... he wasn't ready for magic that advanced.

The magician reaches into the magic box and pulls out a chicken bone with a knot into it. (remember, it was supposed to turn into a rope with a knot in it).

change

je me rappelle du poids de l'alcool sur mes yeux, et de ton corps

alcohol mouth to alcohol mouth

and eggshell hearts all eventually fix

(you're both windswept and tired of this)

i cracked open my throat to let the birds go

and they left granite talons in my shoulders

Watching

Scratch my eyes,

BFFLs + Sistaaaaahhs

watching the watchmen, the truth chair, one and a half hours, END SCENE, breakfast, chalking the sidewalk to polite passerbys, strong arm, james-made basses and bodos, sunburns, work, bubble bath chatterboxing, mumbling nonsense dreaming right off the bat, burger day on a beautiful day, do the right thing, walks to the parking lot, running into cowards, cigarettes are expensiver, office and exhaustion.