C-L-S

I’m fine.

I know I’m crying,

but that’s normal.

I’m just fine.

I feel like I’m dying,

but who doesn’t?

Oh-

Punctured the main artery, sunsets flowing down your ribcage, dull frantic thud-

I’ve done it again,

Left an empty hole in the middle of your chest

Maybe there was something there before

five years spent practicing, learning, building community around myself, so beautiful

here on the mats, ponytail swinging, laughter,

saturdays from nine to ten-thirty, then eight to ten-thirty,

My mother wasn’t born this strong.

No, her strength comes from years of labor.

Labor of the body, 

Labor of the mind.

My mother’s shoulders are strong;

Maybe we're the ones 

who grew up on our iPads then 

our phones, 

the ones who teach our teachers 

how to use their screens,  

the ones