Poetry

Four Animal Crossing Poems

I have a difficult relationship
with the day. But bein’ surrounded
by friends like this
is just what I’ve always wanted.
I feel like I could be better
about writing to my parents, though.

XP

I think about the game I paused
my avatar guided by a map waypoint for
a side quest
I’m supposed to kill a local warlord
to stop his reign of terror
my reward, increased experience points
a new gun

Pentimento

The strokes quickened—Frantic now.
Details skimmed. Splotches of red.
The dicing was raw. Tap tap tap—
That’s how the skin was pierced.
That’s why the strokes
refused to dry.

LEVEL ZERO

we drop into one of the void spaces / so common in these games / only to land in the bottomless dark / in a place / both within and outside the game / where true life / twinkles out of reach / resembling merry moons / orbiting an absent planet / and the only way out is dying

Self-Portrait as Blanka

I used to crouch, run electricity through my body too,
so, no one could reach the purple parts
of my visibly green skin. Ask anyone who tried
to love me before I turned twenty-five.