By Hannah Levin
you put your cigarette out on my heart and i felt it burn through the vessels
you were high with the moon as i watched the sunset hoping you’d stay alive long enough to see aurora
between bumps of unknown substances from a stranger
not religious but i pray.
you make me this way.
words i’ll never tell
your mind hurt you, so i let you break me
it all made sense at the time.
cover me in ashes then complain that i’m too dirty.
so i clean myself up
now i look too good
how dare i go out in public, looking like this
i don’t know what i was thinking.
i’m sorry
i should’ve known better anyway, how dare i seek attention
from one other than my lover
i sit on the floor, crossed. i watch a single smokey-colored tear fall down my cheek.
i taste it. why is it sweet?
my head is starting to hurt me too.
it’s getting bad again
how am i supposed to look after the both of us.
i think i’m going to have to let you down.
this god damned town will destroy us
baby, i’m sorry
but i’ve got to let you down.
im sorry i couldn’t win your heart over a milligram of whichever substance you chose for the week
maybe i’ll win the next one
once it’s all worn off,
or the money has perished in this fire you caused
your flames left marks on my skin i worry will never come off.
burns leave awful scars.
Hannah (She/They) is an artist and teacher who is passionate about healing through nature and art. she creates art through various modalities. she recently graduated with a degree in Expressive Arts Therapy and lives in Boston with her cat, Mazzy. You can follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @hanlevx
