picked apart

my religion consisted of 

      picking apart my whole world

and cutting it out into jagged stars

      that burned without meaning. 

i was not happy

    overthinking and critiquing 

the portrait of my life. 

    the edges began to curl

     and yellow.

i am working on closing

   the book of pessimism, 

so i can drench myself

    in the clarity of optimism. 

and hopefully, i will be 

    welcomed with open

   arms to the congregation

of me, myself and i