Finished in September 2019

What I Wish For 

Zac Langridge 

What do I wish for as a present? 

Do I wish for something expensive? 

Do I wish for something that’s elegant and elaborate? 

So that my relations have to build up every little penny 

In order to buy it specially for me 

Do I wish for something humble? 

An affair so insignificant that it may as well not exist 

So that I can add another brick to my facade 

And build up more of that false pretense of groundedness 

Do I wish for something expected? 

Something safe and predictable? 

So that everyone knows what to expect 

And stay with their unchanging view of my persona 

Do I wish for something innocent? 

Something that will attract the attention of a child 

Widen their eyes and paint a smile on their dials 

And further the expectations of the ironically unsuspecting masses 

Or, do I wish for something mature? 

Something that will let everyone know that I’m a grown up 

And will only further distance them from the truth 

The truth that I’m a lost child in an ageing, hurting body 

No 

What I wish for, as a present…. 

Is a plant of nightshade 

A plant that is beautiful, and perfectly harmless 

Except for its berries 

Which can kill you in under a minute 

As the name suggests, the berries shade the night in their blue flesh 

I wish for a plant of nightshade 

To be placed by my bed when I feel angry or sad 

So that it’s there for me when I want it 

And it’s also there for others who deserve it