I make a modern ruin of myself
make my mascara run
tease the run in my tights
stain my shirt with coffee
I make a modern ruin of myself
in dilapidated desk chairs
I curve my spine away from them
thrust fingerprints onto the keys
I make a modern ruin of myself
thread my thoughts with search results
crumble when I cannot find the truth
haunt the news for hours
I make a modern ruin of myself
carpet my tongue in cold coffee
settle the battle for rest by
becoming perpetually productive
I make a modern ruin of myself
clear my head with a sharp blink
open ads with a coy click
warm my hands over the monitor
I make a modern ruin of myself
turn the brightness down, then up
drown myself in headlines
quit trusting anyone
I make a modern ruin of myself

Rosa Todaro is a writer living on Long Island. Her poetry explores the natural world, inner landscapes, and mental health. Her work has appeared in the Suffolk County Poetry Review, Mad Swirl, and Open Minds Quarterly.