At a University Poetry Reading–Accepted to 2016 San Diego Poetry Annual

They were younger, for the most part
Except for the icons and mentors, of course
Full of life, blood, sophistication
Words and bodies juicy as pomegranates

I was older, wiser, envious
As their wicked words poured freely,
Words that glue my own mouth
Like the cheese I nibbled nervously

Young bodies and language
Lubricated with wine
Their poems as full of life
As mine were full of death