Bubbles of Deletion By Richard King Perkins II

Tonight seems rigged to be nearly endless—

highly deceptive minutes

a jangle of black fabrication

crouched and trembling.

It’s sad that you’ll never be able to transcend your suffering;

you’re just not that good at being human.

Folding blissfully

you’ve become the force you refuse to believe in—

and you don’t understand it;

why spring became excited when you entered the world

taking advantage of you by the thoughtless sea,

your bright neck and your reckless idiot breasts

and still you value the most fantastic lies

and misadventures of mind.

This was my idea—

the gradual wriggling of darling, thumb-like things

I built it all on my own

and if I love you it’s only because you’ve given me

fleeting access to your introverted visions;

an atmosphere of no resistance

unleashing five toe-swept vivas

into the emptiness of space

bubbles of deletion bursting in your brain.


Richard King Perkins II is a state-sponsored advocate for residents in long-term care facilities. He lives in Crystal Lake, IL, USA with his wife, Vickie and daughter, Sage. He is a three-time Pushcart, Best of the Net and Best of the Web nominee whose work has appeared in more than a thousand publications.