Roseanna Alice Boswell

Pinterest is for Dog Sweaters & Sad People

I’m not depressed

I just need another hobby

or another drink and it’s impossible

to get diagnosed as a millennial

either I’m fine

or I’m too sick;

I’ll leave my phone at home.

I left the curling iron on to self destruct—

do you think my landlady will notice

the certainty of inconvenience

or is this like the broken washing machine

something that can be put off

a week or so?

I want to get a pet mammal so badly

but first I need to find a new home

for my pet rock—

not just the driveway like you suggested

—either we’re perfect for each other

or you don’t understand me at all.

I wish I understood the etiquette

of wearing a romper past age 25

but at least I know exactly what I want:

a dream home or a diet coke.

I didn’t mean to hate myself

I was just sobusy darning your socks

slipped a finger sideways to catch thread

I am always catching threads

so nothing frays so nothing

comes apart I never come anymore

even with your fingers length-deep

inside I’m not afraid of fraying

so much as wearing thin

I’m not thin but muscles can be taught

to pull tight finger seams up thighs

how many hygiene products

does it take to become completely

sterile? how many times can I unravel

before sterilizing your needle?

I’d never let you put a run in my stockings

with your tongue I’msorry

I’m busy hiding in a thimble

Roseanna Alice Boswell is a poetry MFA candidate at Bowling Green State University in Ohio. Her work has appeared or will appear soon in: Driftwood Press, Maudlin House, and elsewhere. You can find her on Twitter @swellbunny posting about feminism and her love of exclamation points.