An Apathetic Pancake

An Apathetic Pancake

It seeps into you like

   syrup into pancakes;

A little drop soon reaches all the way through

   to the plate.

At first you don’t notice the flavor         

   you add more

      until finally

all you can taste is

   Syrup.

The overpowering flavor soon destroys

   the entire pancake

and you know not how to begin again.

Slimy fingers stick to the scummy fork

   and you find yourself stuck

      in a realm of

Saturated Pancakes

   and lost flavor.

The deliciousness that was once there

   evaporates

you attempt to regain it

   frantically gulping down orange juice

      as even the acidic

has been tainted by the serum.

At this point, there is nothing to do,

   but wait for it to run its course.

Hoping that the syrup in your veins will

   disappear

and that the emptiness will be full again.

You keep trying to fill it with something else,

   something to distract you,

      make you taste again,

but you’re stuck with the thick syrup.

As time goes by it worries you

   as even the most heartfelt sweetness cannot

      penetrate

the maple layer coating your heart still.

The numbness amazes you,

   as you know what you should be feeling,

but you are in a coma of

   sticky syrup

      and saturated pancakes.

You cling onto whatever momentary fulfillment comes your way

   as the pancake clings to the plate,

happy that you can taste something -

   anything at all;

you bring the fork to your mouth,

   and continue to eat-

      all you’ve ever known how to.