Instructions for not writing a sad poem

first

stuff that tearful feeling down

gag it and shove it into the darkest corner of your mind

in order to write happy poetry you cannot be on the verge of tears

next

think of happy things

don’t think about your gaping mother wound

or how broken you feel every other day

and definitely don’t let the existential dread creep in

instead, think of long hugs

and the way the light filters through the window

casting everything in gold

just avoid the bad stuff at all costs

then

write down some metaphor that you always use

or talk about trees and mountains like they’re your church

people love that shit

compare yourself to the smell of wet dirt

just don’t jump from that to something like

“I am the soil beneath the feet of all those who have tread through my door and still chosen to leave… dry and thirsting for compassion…”

STOP

DONT DO THAT

stuff it back down

nobody wants to hear you go on and on about all the abandonment!

spare these people your victimization

just be happy

you can do that right?

you can still feel joy?

If you’re always sad nobody will want to listen to your poetry and why write sad stuff when you can write stuff like, “sweet gentle pigeon bobbing up and down the sidewalk…

…you used to be so useful, then we used you and moved on like you weren’t a crucial part of society…”

dang it…

there you go again

comparing yourself to pigeons

that’s not how to not write a sad poem…