salt.

by Nayyirah Waheed

she asked ‘you are in love what does love look like’ to which i replied ‘like everything i’ve ever lost come back to me.’

there are feelings. you haven’t felt yet. give them time. they are almost here. – fresh

where you are. is not who you are. – circumstances

sit in the ocean. it is one of the best medicines on the planet. – the water

i want more ‘men’ with flowers falling from their skin. more water in their eyes. more tremble in their bodies. more women in their hearts than on their hands. more softness in their height. more honesty in their voice. more wonder. more humility in their feet. – less

if your light falls out of your mouth pick it up. (and put it back). – noor

you see your face. you see a flaw. how. if you are the only one who has this face. – the beauty construct

stay is a sensitive word. we wear who stayed and who left in our skin forever. – sojourn

if you deserve honey mine will flow from my arms to yours no effort, no asking. but, if there is none and you feel wind instead. know that my spirit already senses that when you smell sweetness you begin harvesting blades in your hands. – kindness is a form of intelligence

unharm someone by telling the truth you could not face when you struck instead of tended. – put the fire out (unburn)

stop speaking. use your eyes, instead. – the eye fire

if you show someone the sun in your bones and they reject you you must remember. they hurt themselves this very same way. – unable

i am relieved. when i see the feminine presence in a man’s eyes. it means he is a peace i do not have to bring to him. – ease

apologize to your body. maybe that’s where the healing begins. – starting

i loved you because it was easier than loving myself. – runaway

your words walk down my back. this is how you leave me. – vertebrae

will you always be this pain in me. will you always hurt.

it was i who held you. when you wanted someone else. – treason