Break an empty bottle against the edge of the bar
This is your mind, jagged and—
—sharp
A loud, desperate fight me written
(Almost carelessly)
Across your snarling lips in red

Break your ribs, these hollow bones
Mend them with glue and—
—hot nails
So maybe each breath you take will be as tenuous
(As burning)
As the grip you have on your own soul

Careful, your knees are buckling
Lock them against the weight bending
Your spine, straining
Your shoulders

Paint your collar bones with stars
In honor of a sun's bright
Scorching
Core in your heaving chest

Paint rivers over your veins
In honor of the slow
Inevitable
Power pulsing just under your skin

Scrawl the thought that will never leave your tongue
On the walls of every gas station bathroom
On this endless road trip to—
The end of the world, to—
Nowhere and nothing.
Write it all, everywhere, so everyone will
Know, but
Not know you

Still your shaking hands
Clench them into fists
(You are not done here yet)

Furious soul
Fragile
Painter and canvas

Truth or dare?
(You are not merely honest, you are the Truth)
Heads or tails?
(You are not merely bold, you are the Dare)
The coin, not heads or tails.

Clear liquid in a clear bottle
Lava down your throat, in your lungs
Behind your eyes, fireworks
Burning —the edges of your mind, broken glass
Brittle —an ancient map of thought, tearing and flaking

Find the end, meet the end
Truth or Dare, a coin
Broken bottles, broken bones

Tell me, sister
Have you ever wanted scarred knees and dirt under your nails?

Tell me, brother
Have you ever wanted to kiss the moon?

h.f.m.