5-21::9-1

do you smell the
scorching of the gash
cigarette stain shaped the cuts
--leaves jagged burns
along the edges of your mouth
holes
just large enough for
your soul to leak and
escape the capsule of your
blanket skin


you are empty again

are you crying?

stop


cauterize + clean
cavity and crater of
a 12 year old pain

all beauty breaks your heart

in like lavender

chin up, child
don't hold your breath
you are allowed to
seize the air
you are allowed to
carve a place in
the wind

do not hush your heart
let it shout, sing
let it bellow glories
let it weep your grief

create yourself
from the void
speak your existence
until you emerge
from the nothing of
a heavy darkness
until the light lifts
from the tired of
shattered men and
hoarse mothers