Keeping busy
For M
to skirt the mind’s madness, to suit-up against the heart’s desire to think about what’s missing because everywhere you look, it’s possible that all you see is lack, loss, lustre-listless. ennui sounds delightful on the tongue but weighs the muscles like acid, lactic lackadaisical. listen to love songs to lavish the lashes, open wounds sticky with scabs. make art. dirty your nails. mess your hair. walk outside. do the dishes. fold the laundry. eat chocolate cake. take a sad selfie. watch Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. pet the dog. lay naked on the grass and listen to the cicadas symphony. talk to your mother. nap. soon the snap will happen and it will hurt a little less. I promise.
VANESSA SHIELDS 