what else is there

besides angry

fathers and

their ex-wives and the way my

throat hurts

extra in the mornings despite

the salt-water rinse

and the Time

– don’t

worry, though. i 

learned 

early not to

care about moments like these

how they reek like mold,

ache like

shin splints, because

however unable to swallow

I still

lick

the thread before giving it 

to the needle;

mend the 

hole in your pants 

from when you fell