Nothing in a Pretty Package
by Sabrina Dawkins
You’re used to getting nothing.
A skilled salesman sold you air.
No sign on it saying “buyer beware”
of my tricks and my schemes.
With dreams and future dreams
I populate your mind
so your thoughts grab hold of me,
only me, so that I become
both emptiness and everything.
Relax while I offer you nothing
in pretty boxes carefully wrapped
by a seasoned gift wrapper
so skilled the paper cost more than the gift.
But there is no gift,
only fluff of a bow too big
and colorful paper too tight wrapped around a box
so fingers can’t separate it
when time to unwrap nothing.