πολύτροπος
i am lying in crushed bone and old dirt
and you start to cry
because things have gotten to this point
and i still won’t tell the truth about anything.
you don’t get it!—i’m twenty years
away from home and you’d begrudge me
my beloved epithets,
my dime-a-dozen word games,
like i have anything else to prop my spine up with.
oh you’re sincere, oh
you can’t manage my tongue
twisters five times fast—you’re so good.
you’re so good, you’re so good, are you
scared that i’m lying this time too?
get down here and try the dirt first
if you want my real name.