I.

sometimes
the only way
to create
is to destroy
like
that time I
punched a hole
through the canvas
of my best painting
and then
went to work
on it
with a
kitchen
knife

except I
couldn’t
figure out
how
to put the
pieces
back
together

II.

one time
a cat
followed me
into a lake
and
a boy
slept next to me
and I learned
loving is dangerous

a man
followed me
into a lake and
I learned
there are things more
dangerous
than love

III.

perfection is
shells and
galaxies
tree branches or
a bee’s wings

it’s not hipbones
or report cards
or the sadness
on your mother’s
face

IV.

some days
the only thing
keeping me from
killing myself
is a lack of closure

so I flip to the
last chapter

V.

it’s nine hours later
in the ICU that
I realize I’ve
ruined
the ending

it’s years later
that I realize
some beginnings
only come
from
ruins