Things I've Learned From Books

"The worth of a book is to be measured by what you can carry away from it." - James Bryce


Dearest Callie
one of two
elective mutes
one of two
cutters
one of three
hospital residences
she mumbles
handing me a caramel
asking if I am one of the
"food disorder girls"
and shouts out Jeopardy trivia
we look at cracks in the ceiling
in therapy
and stay mostly silent
she runs away sometimes
but always comes back

Craig
he left the hospital
he's better
healed
an artist
drawing maps
where I ought to go
and where I am
he tells me not to jump
he tells me the hospital is okay
they will let you out
when your better
they can make you better
you can make you better
if I'm not careful
he'll have sex with someone on my bed
sneaky boy

Melinda no es linda
often silent
looks at trees
she tells me how terrible high school is
how no one likes her
she ruined a party
sirens
flashing lights
and a boy
older boy
touching and hurting
she inhales pizza on the couch
flipping the cushions
avoiding authority
she bombed freshman year
we are partners in crime

Winn-dixe
forever loyal
and true
hides with me in thunderstorms

The bad influence
Lia
the lonely
she didn't want to be alone
so she stays sick with me
she tells me my caloric intake
and is jealous of vomiting
whispering hush hush words
of how great it is to be hungry
cut the blade deeper
hurt yourself more
the doctors will stitch you up
your insides will not fall out
she leaves me in a motel room
never answering her phone
ring
ring
ring
nothing
only silence
tell me how to lie to nurses
eat their food
become a ballon
then stop outside
be a thin girl with a hospital record