Dismantle

dismantle
notes to self

sort and dismantle
your thoughts, keep
the good, spread
out the hard—
judgments here,
fear tendrils there,
anxiety nearby
set down
pettiness and rage, too
if left in the mind,
they chafe and fester

pay close attention
consider the bits
you’ve laid about, the
suffering they caused
don’t pick them up
leave them
and walk away
if you decide you can’t
live without them
they’ll still be there

(the photograph of the flower comes from the Barnstorming blog. Thank you, Emily.)