Poetry International Poetry International
Poem

Michelle Green

IT’S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE

IT’S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE

IT’S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE

It’s a put your hands over your ears
            erase your fears science

It’s a leech under the skin
            suck the blood demons within science

It’s a thin science

a hide the blister packs in the bin science

It’s a one way chemical pathway
through         your          brain to sane                   science

a fill in the form again science

A sit in the waiting room
            for free samples
don’t think about the test groups
negative examples
general practitioners on three hours sleep science

It’s a holistic help don’t come cheap science
A drop your jaw and make the leap
                                                            flavour of the week science

It’s a tick box analysis
            black hole paralysis
paroxetine to quiet your scream science

it’s a monotone dream science.

A habit forming trip to the grey zone
The space between the channels

The buzz at the edge of earshot
            pain clot science

It’s a passive robot
            tab under the tongue
to lower the pound of your heart
push you together
                        then tear you -
            hold onto your soul
            with both hands
            hold on with both hands science

It’s a desert tongue hung
high in the back of your throat
Ambition dried
            to the hem of your coat
Salt stains on your new shoes
everything to lose science

not a cheap cigarettes and booze science

A clean lined laboratory approved
            profit perforated
                        margins            infused                         with
on-site employee health spas
stock incentives
and a real artificial lake
                                    for
                        when
                                    you
                                                take
                                    your break
                                                            science

a taste so fake science

It’s fifteen years old
            sat in a hot bath
            opening up a wrist
            pumping fist
That’s not our problem
they were always at risk science

            (put your hands over your ears erase your fears)

It’s twice the urge to slice

                        (hands over your ears hands over your ears)

in test groups of healthy people

                        (overyrearsoveryrearsover)

under the age of eighteen


And that’s a fact

It is not
an exact
science
Close

IT’S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE

It’s a put your hands over your ears
            erase your fears science

It’s a leech under the skin
            suck the blood demons within science

It’s a thin science

a hide the blister packs in the bin science

It’s a one way chemical pathway
through         your          brain to sane                   science

a fill in the form again science

A sit in the waiting room
            for free samples
don’t think about the test groups
negative examples
general practitioners on three hours sleep science

It’s a holistic help don’t come cheap science
A drop your jaw and make the leap
                                                            flavour of the week science

It’s a tick box analysis
            black hole paralysis
paroxetine to quiet your scream science

it’s a monotone dream science.

A habit forming trip to the grey zone
The space between the channels

The buzz at the edge of earshot
            pain clot science

It’s a passive robot
            tab under the tongue
to lower the pound of your heart
push you together
                        then tear you -
            hold onto your soul
            with both hands
            hold on with both hands science

It’s a desert tongue hung
high in the back of your throat
Ambition dried
            to the hem of your coat
Salt stains on your new shoes
everything to lose science

not a cheap cigarettes and booze science

A clean lined laboratory approved
            profit perforated
                        margins            infused                         with
on-site employee health spas
stock incentives
and a real artificial lake
                                    for
                        when
                                    you
                                                take
                                    your break
                                                            science

a taste so fake science

It’s fifteen years old
            sat in a hot bath
            opening up a wrist
            pumping fist
That’s not our problem
they were always at risk science

            (put your hands over your ears erase your fears)

It’s twice the urge to slice

                        (hands over your ears hands over your ears)

in test groups of healthy people

                        (overyrearsoveryrearsover)

under the age of eighteen


And that’s a fact

It is not
an exact
science

IT’S NOT AN EXACT SCIENCE

Sponsors
Gemeente Rotterdam
Nederlands Letterenfonds
Stichting Van Beuningen Peterich-fonds
Prins Bernhard cultuurfonds
Lira fonds
Partners
LantarenVenster – Verhalenhuis Belvédère