Jessy Assy

always the one driving

others

to the airport –

never the one boarding

a plane,

I sip on my Romarin tea

and realize

something has to give –

It’s just always been me,

failing

in all of my attempts

at embracing

stoicism.

Jesus would’ve asked me

to forgive

and forget

though you only

ever ask me

to ignore

and be happy.

After all, I’m no Jesus.

I can’t be resurrected.

I can only

engage

in businesses.

So I’ll trade you my heart

for one of your kidneys

if you’d give me

one of your lungs

in exchange

for my liver.

we’d keep this organ-bartering

going

back and forth

till it becomes unclear

where each organ

essentially belongs

so that perhaps

when your heart beats

I’d feel it pound strongly

in my chest,

and when I would take

a deep breath,

your own perfume

would fill your lungs

as we both observe

solitude

is the wiser solution

for most problems;

it’s just one

person

short

of making it

tolerable.