Instructions

tick the days on the calendar
slide that weight right to left
balancing your too-much self
watch the sky, pop the pills
from each plastic bubble
measure into bowls and count
out your breaths
fill in blank space with numbers
make a graph, chart it out
trace your fingers across the map
a geography of maintenance
keep it up, your head high
your spirits too, drink just enough
track it all, like a hunter
waiting in the moonlight
measure tides, listen
gravity
be the waves, be the sand
write yourself an almanac
contain every wild fancy
every whim and whimpering doubt
catch it all
let it blink in a jar by your bed
hold it there, make it still