How To Be a Good Reader

Read when you're hungry.
Read when you're full.
Read when your stomach's growling
and your mouth is sour
but you've been eating
the same leftovers
for three days running
and you can't bring yourself
to nuke that shit again.

Read when you're single.
Read when you're in love.
Read when you're in love
but you're single
and refuse to use the word
'unrequited'.
Read when two of your cousins
both younger
are getting married
somewhere greener
and expect you to show.
Read when your girlfriend's
lost her mind again.

Read when you miss your biological father.
Read when you miss the men
who have replaced him.
Read when it's Father's Day
and you don't give a damn
because you're saving money this way
and you've already made
your one required phone call.
Read when you hear only "Goodbye"
after saying "I love you."

Read when you're sure of one true thing.
Read when you doubt your very existence.
Read when you've heard the voice of God
but were surprised to discover it only
governs traffic exiting the Lincoln Tunnel.
Read when you have to go crazy to be sane.

Read when in a shimmering moment of weakness
so typical of your sign
you mistakenly think
that writing would be a good idea.

Don't write.
Don't ever try to write.