Crack ur whip
Rise to the occasion
It’s a fine line between hungry & thirsty
Je suis la proie de moi-même
I am my own prey
Tamer of words
We know only folly
Blowtorches & burn holes
some otiose appendage
U have success coming
No timing like divine timing
It doesn’t have to be LaGuardia
Or dreams of Pisa
Come on baby dry ur eyes
I don’t hold grudges
Commuter mugs are hideous w/o exception
To explain bruises I claim rough sex
apply myself as best I can
Painting man’s feet as sensational device
Marianne
what a Pharisee
Ppl think I remember but I’m just dozing
Laura wanted kids to keep reading
Melania wanted kids to stop bullying
The blind accumulation of wealth
reading abt itself in a newspaper
A quiet luxury
studied in silence
& pried open
MICHAEL CHANG (they/them) is the author of many volumes of poetry, including TOY SOLDIERS (Action, Spectacle, 2024), THINGS A BRIGHT BOY CAN DO (Coach House Books, 2025) & HEROES (845 Press, 2025).
