Through parted lips

I really did try to stay present

to clench my jaw

and chew on every word

that dribbled out my soft lips

and in return

I tried to catch every heavy word with a butterfly net

every horrifically kind word you rebounded

and roll with the punches

your words pushed out through a grimace,

through parted lips

I tried to drink in the early evening air

to meet the moment porously

and justify every breath and pause

with a branding of emotionally maturity,

of the challenge to feel whole,

I stumbled but

I did not quiver or cry