tell me again how you value my friendship and maybe
this time
i’ll have enough faith in the working order of capitalist exchanges to
not
ask for a gift receipt
under the assumption that promises can be redeemed for an item of equal value

tell me again how you missed me and maybe
this time
i’ll cage your verbal caresses in a prison built of the
bones of their ancestors
and cast the key into a river coursing with my naïveté

tell me again how you’re nothing like him and maybe
this time
my mind will deny your plea for plastic surgery
and grant you residence in the gated community of individuality
i’ll give security a photo of your doppelganger
so they can evict him for me

tell me again and maybe
this time
i’ll envision myself believing you