Advice to Myself

Work, rest, and rise. Smile and breathe. Eyes
must close sometimes while watching skies.
Reopen, laugh, join everything,
close to rest--let dreaming ring.
The eyes would like a good disguise.

No extremes endure or suffice.
The spirit of loneliness lies.
Love your acts, perform well, and sing.
Work, rest, and rise.

When intensities pull out your cries,
make something. Make apricot pies.
Create some good, create a spring,
know the texture of apron strings,
use and love your changing thighs.
Work, rest, and rise.