The Hurt – A Poem by Brandon White

The Hurt

If anyone asks,
It was cold turkey

I exorcised my pain,
spoke the words,

sent it into the world
and out of me

I haven't touched
the stuff since

I wanted to quit
hot turkey

but apparently
that's not a thing

The world is coming
into focus now

Color stops me
in my tracks

Steady rain
is overwhelming

I don't remember
how to do this,

how to get out 
of the way

It all feels new
and terrifying

My inner critic
is louder than ever

I'm just trying to find
my footing again,

to get steady,
to remember

a version of myself
before the hurt


-Brandon White