Luke Bensing

Recompense

as normal as falling asleep
I’d stay and talk, but my heavy eyelids won’t stop closing

as normal as the faint dirt felt under my fingernails
I can’t just wash my hands every few minutes

as normal as the antibodies, the bacteria, the battle between tiny germs in tiny helmets with tiny swords and tiny shields

as normal as everyone
let’s generalize your experiences, let’s assume conformity

as normal as breathing
as common as suffocation

as normal as justification
but I brought this on, I did this to myself

I wouldn’t normally say this
but that’s really pretty normal