#lsplus

And then we have children. Little carbon copies we can turn to and say, "You will do what I could not. You will succeed where I have failed." Because we want someone to get it right this time. But not me. Personally speaking, I can't wait to watch life tear you apart. (Stoker, 2013)

So would you teach me I'm the villain, aren't I? Push me down into the water like a sinner, Hold me under And I'll never come up again

You made her my alternate. There's always an alternate, you know that. She's the best choice. She wants my role. Every dancer in the world wants your role. No, she's different. She's after me. She's trying to replace me.

— Louise Glück, from “Timor Mortis”

Do you think the CIA couldn't find you when you went missing? Or that you learned what happened to you by chance? And if your mother's really been helping you since you left, why haven't you ever spoken to her? You can't believe that you and your sister just happen to both be agents! There's a bank in Wittenberg. A numbered vault. Proof.

Look into my eyes, now you're getting sleepy Are you hypnotized by secrets that you're keeping? I know what you're keeping, I know what you're keeping

So crawl on my belly ‘til the sun goes down I’ll never wear your broken crown Now in this twilight, how dare you speak of grace?

Litany in Which Certain Things Are Crossed Out I Richard Siken