Empiricist

Empty room

Cast about for a familiar object

Because my body needs coordinates to move

In the dark

Range of motion shrivels all around me

All my nightmares I am slowly being cocooned

A single calf in the hecatomb

Crescent moon

Hollowed out of all my fabled insides

Occam shave me down to primal truth

Return me to the womb

Mother pulled from father's ribs

Little baby in a crib

Hands reaching up

Before the blinding light is split

Through the prism of your organs into colors

All that being and nothingness

On the same Möbious strips

Sleep and waking up

On the first day

Wipe the blank slate

And you join the banquet

Served up helpless on a plate

But you find your land legs

And you learn to imitate

You'll wear any feathers

Hope that your efforts attract a mate

And then the children find you

Locked in the bathroom

Staring in horror at the reflection of your face

And you say you're sorry

To the guests at your party

But you can't help wonder

Who is this person you celebrate?

And so the light fades

It's still your birthday

So blow out your past lives

Like they're candles on the cake