Burnt

By Julie Heany

And notice how your burnt tongue feels,

but this time imagine smoldered skin and 

eyes and lips. Be okay with a raw tongue

and know that singed skin needs bed rest and 

the saliva of its own mouth. Keep it inside 

for a while, listen. Let the flavor of charred buds teach 

how to care for the singed, smoldered, raw, and burnt--

before you can’t taste anymore.