Read Poem: “lithium” by veronica haunani fitzhugh

your salt water hugs have drowned me and given me wings above the waves.

being the lightest, you’ve left me in shadows of sanity and the stone white light of clarity.

you tried to murder me. you tried to make me see.

your double edged serpent tongue lied to me and brought me closer to my truths.

i tried to leave you many times and found myself on busy street corners insane dancing.

my synaptic gap kisses burned and became fatal without you.

i loved to hate your control.

and, i thank you for balancing and threatening me to live.