Helium

getting out of bed has become a magic trick.

I am probably the worst magician I know.

I died young with breadcrumbs in my hand, so they buried me and when they buried me, they put these coins over my eyes, and I used them as bus fare to get back to Earth, just so I can look for you.

I pray that God somehow turns you back into one of my ribs

just so I would never have to spend an entire day without you.

I’d write about your eyelashes, and how they are like

violin strings that play symphonies every time you blink.

trying to convince my shadow

that I’m someone worth following.

I’m afraid if I let you see my skeletons,

you’ll grind the bones into powder

and get high on my fault lines.

I’ve never been in the military,

but I have a purple heart:

I got it from beating myself up

over things that I can’t fix.

Some days I forget that my skin

is not a panic room.

Yesterday I tripped

over my self-esteem, landed on my pride

and it shattered like an iPhone

with a broken face.

I was born feet first and I’ve been

backwards ever since.

I’m still learning

how to whisper,

Muscle is created by lifting things

that are designed to weigh us down.

When your shoulders are heavy

stand up straight and call it exercise.