The Constant of Consciousness

Addy Guth

February 25, 2026

Don’t

Throw yourself down the stairs

Don’t look over the balcony for too long

Being

Hungry

Angry

Lonely

Tired

Is not an excuse to give yourself

A stick-and-poke tattoo

With calligraphy ink

You are not allowed to collapse on the floor

To throw a toddler-temper-tantrum

Or just start screaming

In the crowded cafeteria at lunchtime

It will

Not

Help you

To bite the next person who rubs you the wrong way

Biting is not the answer

And neither is hitting

Or kicking

Or or rending flesh from bone

With your bare hands and canine teeth

Even if it seems tempting

Almost as tempting as trading a solid lunch

For trying those tiny squares of

Caffeinated chocolate

Or skipping class

In favor of walking into the woods

And trying to pet the bear

You do not answer to

That sweet temptation of self-destruction

You must

Grimace

And bare it

VOICES