Don't Look Too Closely Poem by MaryLisa Russo

Go on...take my hand
Take it...like this...
Now pull yourself up
Pull yourself together...
Look at me...look at me-
Not through me...
Ok. Right. Good.
Now stay in the present
Stay in the here
Stay in the now
No- don't turn your head away
Don't look back
Regrets are there
Enveloped in darkness
And... red thoughts
And... bad memories...
Look forward
Come on....focus
I will help you
Look into my eyes-
But not too deeply...
My own fire.... may burn you