salt.

by Nayyirah Waheed

always

Kayla would love

getting yourself together. what about undoing yourself.

practicing being limp with restraint, because i am really holding you.

must first ask, ‘if’ you want to come back. and though, ‘if’ is razor to my vein, i will ask. so, i am not asking ‘when’ you will come back. because, i can take it, the swimming in your body, the lostness, your growing appetite for doors. i am not asking when. ‘when,’ is not something you ask someone when the bodies of their aunt. uncle. friends. first

healing begins the moment you want it to. – time i touched her in the middle of her heart. i never saw her again. – scar

build houses in your throat. and they live there. content

gulf of your mouth. and i do not know how to swim. – island i look for you in the middle of the light. in the west of the day. in the warm memory of the water.