By Misti Lake
Date: 15 March 2001

Our Fragile Happiness

our fragile happiness has been taking its vitamins
take this morning, for instance
I went to get my blood drawn
with no makeup on my face
and I actually talked to the girl
who poked the needle into my arm
then I strode into Walgreen's to get
my prescription filled
feeling a helium high
more confident than I've ever been
with all my cosmetic armor

you are feeding my battered neuroses
chicken soup and cinnamon rolls
with your love and support and admiration
I'm getting better
as I grow each day into the woman
I never thought I'd become

the Raggedy Ann and Andy pillowcase
is the only relic I have from my childhood
I looked at it today
and thought about how different life was
when it was new
it was a different world
I still get nostalgic
but I know
now is the perfect time
and the little girl who was crying in the closet
is dancing and chasing
butterflies

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