Straw Tears

inside her head the scarecrow laughs. breaking its ugly straw lips. inside her head the crow frowns. fracturing its rigid beak.

but scarecrows can't laugh. and crows don't frown. she only assumes they must. when she looks at them with eyes that do.

the math sobs. soiling its perfection. the numbers spoil in their own resilience. always returning to be solved again. skin is a variable. touch is a constant. the proof is the bruises present in every equation.

the scarecrow listens. its straw ears cracking against the strain. the crow whispers. its sturdy jaw broken by the weight.

but scarecrows are always deaf. and crows rarely speak.

but the math betrays her. And she thinks she hears them.