Naked and Then Blurred

stories are not linear
or predictable
(he/she/they)
(they/she/he)
and so on

there will be heartbreak, pain,
love, fear, life, joy,
in that order or
another order
with some of those things
with none of those things

you may have a career,
(become a scientist)
get married,
(him? her? them?)
go to college
(the smell
of new notebooks and the
of your right hand a constant cramp)

 all of these
or none of these.
or something utterly
and
completely different

love is marked naked and then blurred
life is undressed understanding, for it is the unconvinced
who scream, “help me”
and no one is listening