report card time

you begin with a set of advantages, a set of disadvantages,
with a pair of eyes & hands that often dislike to work
with each other

with a push, a pull, self-injurious tendencies
& a predisposition to browse, to bruise, to love, to hurt others

*

you begin in awe, in you had me at hello, & with the years
you end up striking a deal with the present 
& the future because of the past, your lack of leverage

with timing issues, not knowing when to speed or defer gratification,
when to let go or hold on for dear life

*

you begin with a coin flip, billiard balls, & a defense mechanism
setup to override the software,
ordered to keep others & you yourself out

with a head-scratcher, an incalculable risk,  
& a reward system that’s bound to go kaput


c. a. campos, 2012