I twist the childproof top
off my bottle of failure,
place my shame at the back
of my throat,
and swallow my disgrace
with a swig water

This is what I have become;
a small, round, green,
end to feeling

numbness

apathy

Waiting on change to come,
saying “tomorrow I’ll be strong”
Yesterday, I said the same,
but today… I’m still tired

So I twist the top back on
and put away my failures,
one less than yesterday,
until tomorrow

-Alisha Jael