they ask me
why i read.

they ask about
the books in
my room.

well here it goes:
i ripped my heart
out of my rib cage
and cell by cell
i tore it apart.

i ripped my soul
out of
wherever the **** it was
and thread by thread
i tore it apart.

and then
i opened all my
books
and between
each page
i carefully
tucked
a cell
or
a thread

and now
my heart
and soul
are safe
inside
the stories
other people
had to tell.