Skincare

grudges are too hard to hold with these small hands

being angry at the universe is like being angry at the wind for raining

I can’t help but think of how you would love the Marvin Gaye stamps we got for our wedding invitations

you’d love the shades of purples

greys and eucalyptus notes

statement shoes and pops of color throughout

tying knots into forget me-s

grudges are too hard to hold with these small hands

but I promise not to let the memories slip through

slip through like—

instead they will be sandpaper

anger doesn’t look good on the genes you passed down to me

and it’s not in my nature to scowl

but every now and then

I decide I will never forgive blank

he/she/it/them/blank/no name

entity of some sort or not

you’d tell me that staying mad won’t solve anything

but if it did

I’d never wash my face

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Kirslyn Schell-Smith (she/her) is an artist, writer, and photographer with a BA in Studio Art from Denison University and an MFA from Ithaca College. She became interested in art and writing at a young age. In fact, her first camera was a Fisher-Price Perfect Shot that took 110 film. As of 2020, that film may or may not have been developed...its current whereabouts are unknown. She prefers to write when she isn't expecting it; her psychiatrist's office, in her car in a parking lot, in between clients, in bed at 2am, standing in line at the grocery store, and while she's avoiding the household chores. She has most recently been published by Paul Soulellis, Pilot Press, Soft Lightning, The Los Angeles Press, and Genre Urban Arts (upcoming). Follow her on Instagram @kirslynschellsmithart.

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