3rd Place, Adult Poetry

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Small Advice for Healing, by Gray Thomas

• Shatter Ember Whisper Crimson Unravel Reckon 

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1. 

If your heart  

catches a snag and unravels 

there is a quiet corner  

near the river 

where you can reroll the yarn 

and knit it  

into a new reckoning. 

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2.  

If you find yourself  

on the edge of a cliff 

and a tornado 

is licking your heals, 

you can scoop up the wind 

in a jar  

and listen to the whispers  

in bed  

at night 

before you fall asleep. 

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3. 

Always remember that  

it is okay  

and sometimes necessary 

to shatter. 

To break yourself 

into 10,000 pieces 

so that you can 

reflect the sun’s light waves 

in a billion directions  

and become a small constellation 

for someone 

to make wishes on. 

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4.  

When all of your dreams 

burst fantastically into flames

wait until the fire dies down and the embers glow crimson. Grab a marshmallow. 

Place it on a sturdy stick. Hold it over the coals

until it browns and droops. 

Be careful 

not to burn 

your tongue.