Tethered

fixate on your feed.

every indulgence, every prayer

knotted.

a chewed ball of meat.

steady your senses:

concede to your needs,

concede your needs.

chase sleep

absolution and peace

addiction and relief

until joy feels nostalgic.

strike your heart three times

with the force of your lighter

slamming onto your desk

by the palm of a parent.

rewrite the coding.

redact every mention of kill.

substitute kick.

do not look to the next deadline

or the upcoming blockbuster

or the return of pumpkin spice.

rot your gums.

a wrist is too obvious, too cliché.

dentists expect neglect.

confess the tip of your troubles.

describe your doubts. diagnose your defects.

tell them you know these thoughts are not true,

you know you deserve love,

you know it takes time,

you know people care about you,

you know you can come to them if you need someone.

they'll believe you.

count your blessings.

for every virtue admitted

is a thread from a shoelace

dangling on a power line,

convincingly secure.