dear, there’s no water shortage
and I don’t want to see your cheeks puff out
like water balloons
when your eyes dry as prunes

Don’t save your tears
for a rainy day
you can’t collect them like pennies
in a jar
or sip them like a cocktail
at a bar

Don’t save your tears
for fear that you’ll look
weak
or that
you’ll reek
sweat, salt and blood
or they’ll cut you
as a spud
layer you in the dinner casserole

release them
let them go