She promises me that I don’t
have to be this way forever

That there is a light
at the end of this journey

If only I continue
to put one foot
in front of the other

There is a strange beauty
in the zig-zag array of cuts
that cross my heart
from one side to the other

Front to back,
sliced top to bottom

“One day at a time,” she says

But sometimes the days are long
and darker than the nights

Many of the cuts
were made by her hand

But it seems many more
were made by my own

One foot in front of the other

One day at a time

Breathe

Just breathe

I must remain with myself
even at my worst