I don't know where this came from, but sometimes it certainly feels this way. In case anyone's interested, I'm pretty certain the answer to the math problem is x equals (2ab - 2c) / (3at - cd), although I could be wrong.
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sometimes pterodactyls hijack my brain
and play with the wiring

(the circuits are in the wrong order
says the clown
who feeds them bread crumbs left from last Thanksgiving’s turkey

he wipes his mouth
but it’s still painted on
and all he does is glue it shut)

they laugh their high-pitched laughter
and it tumbles from my mouth
like roses & diamonds & snakes

Rose Red and Snow White
escaping in the gardens from their ennui
chase them around as they land
each footstep a migraine in the making
fossilized forever

how do you like them apples,
asks Snow White as she turns on them

the clown scratches open his mouth and says
“I like them just fine, thanks”
and gathers them together

flying home on their leathery wings, hair flying
in the wind

“Wait,” says Snow White
as she reaches after them
“I was abused as a child”
but her playmates don’t come back and she hides behind the azalea bushes
until sunset and Rose Red carry her home to bed

there are sparks as the wires clash (eroded and rusted)
positive and negative crossing just the wrong side of right
so the light bulb doesn’t blink on

then they chitter chatter away
“a(3tx - cd) c(dx - 2)” says the clown, and, “I think
you’ll find factoring more useful, dear”
as he disappears into darkest night