dirty fingernails

 

 

the stomach aches

you give yourself

the headaches

you give yourself

the heartaches

you give yourself

 

the scabs that open

the pimples that pop

the bones that crack

 

sad things

happy things

angry things

apathetic things

 

poor souls

you've slept with

lucky souls

you've slept with

anyone

you've slept with

 

(they all remember you)

 

peel

back

your

memories

to expose

the fruit

beneath;

 

allow it

to become

rotten

 

throw it

in a pile

of compost;

 

it will

help

something

inside you

 

grow.

 

just don't

weed

it away

 

not until

you see

dirt

under

your

fingernails

 

and even if you do,

you won't have the money,

nor the desire,

to get a manicure