How to cry
Phyllis Carito
I can teach you how to cry
without your makeup running
without your eyes getting red
you have to trust me
stop patting your eyes
with balled up tissues
stop pressing the sides of your fingers tight
against lids and lashes
stop scrunching your face into an empty toothpaste tube
fighting to hold back the flow
you have to lay back your head
just let the tears roll down your face
tuck under your chin
drip into your ears if they must
and sigh, sigh with an open mouth
and then blow your nose
clear your throat
pick up the day
