a form empties itself; a self forms from emptiness

it isn’t uncommon
to remove yourself
from the group.

it is common
to define yourself
both by
the groups you seek
acceptance from,
and those
you refuse.

it isn’t so common,
to remove yourself
without anywhere
to place
the body.

it isn’t so uncommon
to bring an absence
with your presence.

yesterday i bought
apocryphal junk food
from a grocery store.

i held the
soft
warm
cardboard,
the clinging
warm
plastic,
in one hand
while scooping junk
with the other.

walking,
all the while
walking.

a raven,
in a parking
lot
adjacent the
ocean,
noticed my hunger.

it responded
in kind.

the raven hopped
and bounced
along next to me,
well aware of the
cheap trick
i may provide it,
from my warm,
clinging,
hunger.

the shopping bag
rustles in the wind.

the raven
hops along
next to me.

the plastic wrap is
warm and
demands itself
onto me;
the wind
cannot
touch it.

the raven’s feathers
flash black and
purple, as
it hops
its hunger
alongside of me.

i finish my junk
food, place
the vacant wrappers
back into my bag,
show
both hands,
empty,
to the raven,
and
wander on
my way.