How to escape a Skinner box Electronic relationships are the easiest to erase Reject all phone calls, Blacklist the number, Block him everywhere Just hit the ‘delete’ button and it’s all over Go without talking to him this minute and you can Go the next and the next and for every minute after that As if nothing had ever happened. If one plus one is no longer infinity Cut him off; Erase all memories as though you had never met or known or understood or loved This man; Like no one had ever known or loved or understood you. Remember how big the world is and how little you are in it, How ephemeral your feelings and fallacious your knowledge Remind yourself: you are just five senses and He, seventy-two-point-six percent water; If this river runs its course Let it What would remain of you but A few photographs (delete them) A song (change the soundtrack) And the feelings after rosé-induced baby talk? Ignore, ignore all stimuli and chant this like a mantra: In a twenty-six letter world, eight are negligible Only one is holy ‘I’ Escape. *** Wendy Kroy Your attempts to win her over are The tale of Sisyphus’ life- Her wounded eyes, the spider’s snare When you lose yourself between her thighs, prepare To have her endless legs crush your neck- She’ll trap you in her web of lies Smile when you meet her Kiss her even; But be aware- Of that pistol in your pocket Never forget this: If you hesitate to kill her She will kill you; Beware- This is a woman to be worshipped, not loved; Aspire to no more than being her designated fuck, Whatever you do keep your opinions to yourself If she wanted the truth, she’d torture it out of you; Remember she likes her men like her drinks Stiff, blue Don’t try to run or hide You may be damned if you do but You’re dead if you don’t For the moment, prepare To be snuffed out like her hourly cigarettes. ***