Between the mattress and the springs.
This is her book of poetry.
Tell her to name it after herself.
Tell her to name it after the times
Completely naked and fully clothed.
To name it after the times
The water consumed her whole.
After the times that even the water was thirsty
Tell me she won’t forget me.
Tell her that when people say,
God will never give you more than you can handle,
That that was never written in the Bible.
I’m sorry that all of us are born feeling
Feeling like life is too much,
And yet still not enough.
Tell them they were right.
Tell them no matter how tightly
They sew themselves into their sheets,
Everyone you love will leave.
Tell her to give my sister
Tell her I’m no longer terrified
That I’m no longer sitting on
She was always a spectrum of colors
I am better than my mother.
I’m finally finally free.”