Seroquel

The diagnostic book wanted to finish me.
I am functioning high. This isn’t really me.

I am fucking tired. Hi, is this real?
Do I care? I am too broke. I am only a book.

I carry two books that are only one book.
I am reliable if the narrative is about silhouettes.

A relentless narrative tightens around my silhouette.
Does it matter that I overflowed to get here?

Did I mention that I am over all of my fear?
Reader, I never wanted to get here.

I mean it. I never wanted to get here.
Bad magic in my hands sedating me.

How tragic— I can handle anything.
I can finish this book. Watch me.

Rob Colgate is a Filipino-American poet from Evanston, IL. He holds a degree in psychology from Yale University and is currently pursuing his MFA in poetry with the New Writers Project at UT Austin. His work is featured in Best New Poets 2020; his first chapbook, So Dark the Gap, was published by Tammy in March 2020.