Written by Friederike Wiessner.

i adapt

to the circumstances around me

i am a guest, less free—

i am nice, sincerely try to be

my gratitude is deep-felt

i start believing (myself) that this is a home

unpaid for, except for

me being nice, me spending time

with serenity in compromise

fold-out beds and couches

dig their claws into my back

oh how my ribs burn

i am treated with reverence

fairy-tale princess

awake on piled stacks

of too-soft mattresses

awkwardness like dried peas

scores of layers

underneath

my vertebrae talk

thank you for your blow-up mattress

my stomach speaks

i would very much like some toast with hummus

served on a kitchen napkin

my lungs breathe

thank you for sharing your blunt with me

eyes dark blue pools and light blue skies

my departure hovers

over the clouds we breathe out

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Read more of Friederike’s work in the Euphoria, Discord, and Atmosphere editions of WORDLY Magazine.