How to Mourn A Lover in 5 Steps

1. Find a song you love and listen to it often;
it will become your favorite companion.
It will hold you through the hard nights
and dance with you when mornings feel
especially beautiful.
Don't think of him.
Just sing.

2. Get used to the freezing cold;
it may be your only friend
until you learn new ways to love.
Because you knew his way for so long
and you've forgotten all the others

3. Speak to other men.
Flirt with other men.
Do unspeakable things with other men
(preferably in a questionable bathroom
in the back of your favorite dive bar.)
Be a slut
until you stop seeing his face
molded onto a stranger's head
while he fucks you.

4. Slit Nostalgia's throat;
she's a fucking bitch anyway.
As she bleeds out onto the concrete of your memory,
watch the seductive crimson of her feigned helpfulness
slither down steep inclines,
back to the lowest point in your life.
Leaving in it's path
the stain of bitterness

5.Write about him.
Write about him until nothing you write feels relevant anymore.
But do not pen his name,
Do not pen his name,
Do NOT pen his name.
Write about the morning-breath kisses you shared as the sun rose,
write about hay rides with him on Halloween through barely lit corn mazes
write about every single time he called you beautiful
write about every single time he made you cry
but do NOT pen his name.

It will burn itself into your fingertips,
scorching its way through your flesh, bone & blood like poison
until it turns your vocal chords to ash,
stealing away all your words
one at a time,
until all you can speak
is his name.