February 2024 Flash Lit 5 (first stab) - Delete

Delete

The old way was messier.

Even if I chose

a simple slash

through the wrong word.

I could crosshatch

or scribble over

or use a big black marker.

The whole sheet of paper

could be torn out,

crumpled, thrown violently

in the direction of the trash.

If I wanted,

I could even burn it,

an offering of rejected words

to the writing gods.

 

Backspacing

is less satisfying.

The delete key, for all

its innocuous tapping,

a more final erasure.