i asked for advice

up and down the bar

and every response

had something to do

with my heart

to listen with it

to view with it

to feel with it

to decide with it

and i thought about the thing

the horrible shape

the pumping

the blood inside

like a highway

keeping us going

doing a lot

but still expected

to do more

the hideous heart

so grotesque it had to be

put inside, away from sight

and i thought about the love

it supposedly gives

and receives

and neglects

as if it really could

listen, view, feel, and decide

as if it really could

give a shit

about anything

other than survival