must is such a bright bitter bone to pick
it seems quite strong, even brave
like it is coming through
all the way to the other side
where everything is still felt
but not broken
lately I've taken to trying rewrite, rework
or edit poems that I have some distance from
the idea as I understand it, is not to cut for cutting sake
but to improve, not dis anything
I often like my first drafts well enough to leave untouched
but when they have some clarity, there is still some room
to add and maybe even subtract
but I am not overly serious this way
so now I have tried to add a line
in between each old line
something like this:


I think my heart must be a bone,
almost bitter as a stone
for a while it's strength I have not known,
yet still felt its weight hang low
the break was clean but the mend slow,
cutting somewhere deep
and I am limping as I go.

So today I'll offer it once more,
wait to see how much I've grown
please snap it where you did before.

This time I won't hide and cry,
this place I make it my own
I'll love and love, and try and try.

And when it's healed up strong and true,
well, then I'll be through with you.



these lines just shown as an example
I am sure own would be truer to you


for this line
"the break was clean but the mend slow,"

i suggest cutting but
make it
the break was clean, the mend slow,