#self first

and while these veins still know the familiar sound of my heartbeat if they listen close, they'd no longer hear a name; I've made peace with the fact that some things will always live in me— but this, right here, is an elegy.

this is my goodbye and exaltation. this is the sunset taking its place. this is me embracing an ending and a quiet beginning;

this is me coming home— to myself.

— kmk, "sunsets & sunrises"

You can bake a cake

from a box of cake mix,

not knowing proportions

or quantities, not knowing

why vanilla is ubiquitous,

why there’s a shelf life-

Can you love? Love

without acknowledging

your sacrifices, understanding

your traits, without

kindness to your past-

Can you truly love?

Start with a little

Introspection- how did

you get here? What

makes you who you are?

Start with a little

Acceptance- do you really

need to change? Who

are you changing for?

Start with a little

Compassion- to yourself,

Empathy is celebrated, but

are you kind to you?

This may seem incomplete, because it is. Love is a journey and I’ve just begun to take it seriously. The thought of self love seemed so laughable even in the recent past because all I could see were my flaws and mistakes.

I’m trying to focus on being to myself the way I am with others- a little patient, a little kind, a lot honest.

As I introspect and try to accept myself, I’m a little bit happier each day. It makes me a better person to be around too.