seeking a thought from a time when

my hands were

frayed and

raggedy and

worn down.

needing to be fixed up

like patchwork needs mending.

my mouth filled with

synonyms for love

but veiled.

a time when

i opened my palms wide for the sun,

then warmth began to feel wrong.

forgetting

kindness, gentleness

is never untrue

is never fallacious.

trying to

unravel, release

the softness of my bones.

trying to

teach my neurons that

caring is not a synonym for hurting.