Bloom

when you pass the mirror, do your eyes only see the light behind you

afraid to catch your own eye

then you’d have to forgive yourself

heart so big it echoes the skies,

storming down jagged arrows of

anger while you burn

so deeply you only smell soot

afraid of your own voice because it rankles your skin

and it is heavy, and it tastes of the dust that bakes in your windowsill

you’re ready to devour the little town you call home,

but it’s not home anymore because home is everywhere and yet you think you’re alone

you’re a teenager again, so gentle I can feel your touch decades later

when we meet for the first time

and I know it’s you without opening my eyes

I can see you deserve gentleness too

yet you serve yourself meals that are empty

and tell yourself you should be full

while your stomach growls because you feed everyone but yourself

I see you, you’re a canyon alive with birdsong,

walking on two legs

you wish you could disappear,

yet I see you and want to make you smile bigger than your big white dog

because you’re beautiful when you forget to be angry at yourself

dear, you’re not the desert, you’re the oasis,

yet your mouth stays dry

while I watch you bloom in the middle of the river

you think you’re drowning

but you’re only watering yourself