When life leaves room enough for you to fail
and lets your hands be coated in regret
embrace it.

The sting of fumbled cigarette butts on your fingers
will wear you like a well-crafted tattoo.

Exist between your moments of decision.

You spend your days with broken dishes
treading on your stubbed toes like eggshells
and wonder at the stillness of your life

all the time keeping the secret beauty of your flaws
tucked safely beneath your tongue.

(April 30, 2002)