coping

peel back your eyelids and remind yourself that your freckles and flaws were meant to be treasured but never buried below ground

undo the buttons on your blouse and look down at the masterpiece you've tried to paint over knowing the watercolor of words the world has colored you with will wash right off

tilt your head back until your hair hangs low and scream to the sky every word of advice and every time someone has told you it gets better because you know those words never help anything at all

break every tea cup shatter every saucer make your cabinet into a mirror of your heart it will not heal you but it will help the pain settle like boiling water set to simmer

untangle your branches but if your roots brush each other's it's okay to let the past in a little as long as it's not taking all your water because it only rains so often and the salt of your tears dries quickly

press your hand to your breast and remember the world is only as wide as you can imagine and only limited by how high you can count the stars