Dealing with things by memorizing poetry

I memorize poetry 
when things are really bad 
or really good
swallowing it whole, like a grape
fermenting for juice 
I will drink later

There is one about British soldiers
and how death makes love poems
pale in its stead
written by a British soldier who wrote
love poems to life
and died, still

There is a Rumi because
Of course
And because what is more healing than him
Telling me to keep breaking my heart until
It opens?

And who can forget Neruda? 
I can, and often do
So he threatens to do to me
What spring does to the cherry trees
And I blush

And on stormy days, I sit and sulk
until ships come
that call me captain
and they carry me 
(and my unconquerable soul)
Home

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