How to Handle the Cycle . . .

How to Handle
the Cycle of Broken Hearts

Blend the following ingredients:

One trusting heart,

Two cups of hope,

A smile or two,

And the willingness

to try again.

Meld over time,

stirring in personal stories,

moonlit nights of

shared dreams and deep thoughts,

accompanied by

some handholding in the park

with assorted sweet kisses.

Ignore

friends’ whispered confidences,

your parents' advice,

and the worry deep inside you.

Throw in one teaspoon of lies,

several false promises,

two cancellations,

and five putdowns.

Let simmer over days

of unreturned phone calls

and copious tears.

Fold in some secrets revealed.

Sprinkle with more tears

and one large sprig of

crushed expectation.

Bake in a hot oven for two weeks.

Remove and slam down

with a loud stream

of thoroughly hostile words,

thrown dishes and

glass picture frames.

As the air bursts

out of the dream

and the top crashes down,

leaving dry heaves and red eyes,

toss yet another relationship

into the trashcan

with the day's stale bread,

wilted, rotting carrots,

and seven crushed egg shells.

Then

wipe off your hands

and start over.