the hush behind the eyes
the meticulous garbage
a lie is a quiet thing
it strains to be heard between words
peeks and puckers amidst promises
and slithers away

i once believed in the magic of sunrise
minutes of a day when everything is new
a mundane and marvelous renaissance

a lie is a quiet thing
the smell of something not quite white
the careless folds of sheets
smoke that has faded away into the laundry

i smile so bright
every time
pretend i still believe in sunrise
the rip and bleed is noiseless
there is no muffled scream

a lie is an elegant dance
it arches and pirouettes around greetings
flutters and deflates with my smile

a lie is a thread
straining
to pull the anchor
of the sun
from the lake

1. If you can’t keep a laugh in your eyes, keep them empty.
2. If you feel like crying, go for a kiss – ears or neck.
3. Keep the mask pinned on.
4. Fake orgasms.
5. If you’re feeling brooding and contemplative, be fun. Turn the humor up.
6. In fact, just be fun. Laugh a lot. Spend money. Be horny.
7. If your thoughts begin to simmer to the surface, pretend you’re spacing out.
8. When the truth smells ugly, smile bright.
9. Don’t let sadness swim in your voice – let your speech be full of bells.
10. You are vibrant and invisible. I mean, invincible.