he doesn't listen

 My 18-year-old son

Left to go camping

Without even saying goodbye

Perhaps because

I kept bugging him about chairs

And sleeping pads

And food

And he was a little bit late

And a little bit anxious

He doesn’t listen

Which feels like rejection

Even though it isn’t

I have too much stuff already

You’re going CAR CAMPING —

You can take whatever you want

He takes the sleeping pad 

But leaves the chairs

And carries a white plastic bag with 8 Cokes

even though I told him

Where the cooler was

Later (about the time I figure 

he is meeting up with his friends) 

I text:

Sorry, I was just trying to help.  Hope you have a  

great time!!!! (tent emoji; canoe emoji)

We have so much shit that I’m taking your car

We have a grill and steaks and shit

Haha!  So you’re taking two cars?

Yes

I want to reply one more time

and say

I told you so

But I don’t

Lord Help Us *

 Every- 

thing

and

Every- 

body

Lies

Except maybe our garbage –

So much stuff to stop our scents, tubes to 

whiten and brighten but not 

save and protect, bottles as

evidence of how many ways there are to die, tubs of Trader Joe’s – 

dips we could easily make ourselves 

But don’t. 

Every trashed container containing

maybe a couple more days worth which – if 

added up, would be enough to 

last us many years

*Not sure if it’s a petition or a confession, but I know it’s a prayer