Nets

unconsciously woven of words long before birth

made to catch and wrap the infant

to sink into the skin with age

glistening gossamer threads to structure the skeleton

to form frameworks for perceptual reference

and reinforced with gradual understanding

in this way we genetically modify our young

what does it mean to be

genuine authentic

when consciousness is a cobwebbed box of borrowed books

civilization a system for consistency

culturally inbred brined and bullied

i often think of the fish in the joke

wondering “What the hell is water?”

at university i studied underwater basket unweaving

i find myself perpetually pulling loose strings

then wrapping myself so tightly in meshes

eventually i’m back outside

entangled