okay okay I did it but I didn’t do it when I did it but didn’t you know I did it when I said I did it in the distance but don’t just stand there oh dear that dare ree air of insincere you sincerely swear

so say it again with your chest in the mirrorless minute you meant it then bent it then sent it off sideways

feet in the rhythm of almosts and always

pause then proceed with the proof of the promise you pawned then you polished and left on the counter

counting the currency clink of the consonants clicking in sequences slick as a scam

hand to the heart then you hitch then you humbug the truth in a tux like a stand-up exam

plan it then panic then vanishing act it

rabbitless hats in the habit of MAGIC

said you were solid then slid into vapor

said you were stable then stapled to maybes

name it then rename it erase it and trace it

claim it then frame it then fake it then face it

you swear on the air like the air got a ledger

but breath got a memory longer than measures

yeah I clocked it

you dropped it

you softened the landing with VELVET semantics and called it a promise in costume

meanwhile the meaning moonwalked out the door with your SHADOW still talking in costume

don’t tell me steady with tremors in syllables

don’t sell me heaven on clearance with minimal

fine print flickers in friendly confessions

every “I swear” got a sub-sub-section

you did it you didn’t you did it you didn’t

the rhythm keeps tripping on proof and on limits

your mouth says arrival your eyes say rehearsal

your truth on probation your lie universal

step it then stutter then strut then REDACT

sign it then circle the part you redact

wave like a witness who won’t take the stand

but points at the SMOKE like it’s PROOF in the hand