Times Like These

It’s times like these

I know my heart is made of water.

When it is squeezed and wrung

And the stains, dark in the fabric

Are dry by lunchtime,

This is when I know.

 

You’re not alone

I want you to know you’re not alone.

Before you stop smiling

or uncross your legs,

loosen the laces of your spine.

Before you knead the hanging skin

under your arm, or

(after looking both ways)

scratch the inside of your nose.

Before you walk to the mirror

like the minister of silly walks

or like her,

the girl you saw once in the city.

Before you lean into that mirror,

and try to pin-point what went wrong.

Before you stop and wonder with your hands

what he ever saw in you,

Just keep in mind you’re not alone

Times Like These and You're Not Alone 
By: Ryann Lally