what if

my heart is splintered, but if it could catch itself as it faltered
if it hadn’t been altered as you took it’s rib to form another
if it could filter it’s tears from the waters the angel stirred
& then dip itself in first, before another was submersed

my heart is splintered, but if it’s beat became stronger
if it became it’s healer, & filed the calluses from it’s fingers
if it became better than the heart that hurt your daughter
if it became less the joker than the heart blindly cherishing her

my heart is splintered, but if it calmed it’s own violent waters
if it’s feet walked over it’s waves as if they had become firmer
if it could rid itself of anger, & could forgive itself as another
if it traded all it remembers for a past that’d make ‘how’ clearer

my heart is splintered, but if your ribcage gave it shelter
if you turned the waters, & your thumb became familiar
if your lips became sweeter than how i recall hers
& then pressed tighter ’til they removed the bitter