Don’t.
Shut.
Down.
Peel open the layers of your heart
and let it weep
and have tantrums
and (mostly) feel impotent
in the face of all it can’t change.
Don’t give in to the war drums
beating against your ribcage,
and don’t let your one puny heart
cage you in the world’s limitless miseries.
Stand open.
The vast majority of people
are like you — kind and brave,
heartsick and healing —
shattered but refusing
to remain in pieces
on the floor
forever.
Stay.
Open.
Please.
(My heart needs your heart,
right now.)
P.P.S. Photo by Jon Canlas of Brian Andreas, post pudding battle at Brand Camp