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Molecules


by Darryl Price


The rabbit is always there in the hat,
even if he is standing right beside 
you. He can be in two places at the 
same time. Yet his molecules aren't foreign to 
your own country in your own head. It has 

to be said. He is not a liar, but 
well, he does like to play around. That's what 
it means to be free and wild. These days, he 
usually smokes silently alone 
under an always distant tree. Don't ask 

me what he's doing it for. He said you  
would know, but you'd never admit to it. 
I guess that's what makes me some kind of fool's 
messenger to this story. Come on, he 
said, patting me on the back, that is just 

somebody else's crazy semantics. 
Pals don't need to enter that sort of con 
game together. It's too dangerous and 
too easy to get lost in there. And don't 
you dare make any puns about rabbit 

holes. I've had enough of that ageless joke, 
he reloaded, it's racist nonsense. Oh.
You know, sometimes when he smiles, I can't tell 
if it's with a friendly toothy grin or 
a quick sharp intake of breath between more
 
than ready to bite incisors. Yet he 
fully maintains his cool. Look, he said, so 
what if it's a mystery? That doesn't 
make it any less true, does it? Go, tell 
him that. He pointed you out to me and 

that's what I'm doing here now. Feels like I 
owe it to him to at least try and give 
you his words. He's not twisting any arms. 
We've known each other a long time, too. He 
wouldn't say what wasn't important, if 

it wasn't true, if he didn't mean it. 
The molecules made this moment happen.
Yours, mine and his, even those all around 
us. We're all connected to each other,
he said, to no one in particular.

It's the love we've been looking for all our 
lives. Please, why can't you just tell me you love 
me? He was pleading with indifferent 
skies. His eyes closed on several fresh tears
like a fuzzy garage door in new rain. 

So there you have it. It's yours to do with 
what you will. Don't worry. I'll take him out
for a nice carrot cake dinner somewhere.
He's usually happy enough to 
sing again after a few healthy bites.



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