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When I sprained my ankle, 

The doctor told me to get some

Rest, 

To ice it some, elevate the joint, 

Then, to apply heat


After some time like this, 

I would be able to resume

Normal activity, even exercise

While being mindful of the ankle


When I broke my heart


People told me I was better off

That she would regret it

And that with time, her name would lose power


But I preferred the ankle treatment 

For my heart too:

Rest, elevation, ice, heat, 

And after an indefinite amount

Of time, some light use


Then, see how it responds

See how it feels

in the morning


Mathieu Cailler is the author of seven books: a novel, two short story collections, two volumes of poetry, and two children’s titles. His stories, poems, and essays have been featured in over one hundred publications such as Wigleaf, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Cailler has garnered numerous awards for his writing, including a Pushcart Prize; a Readers’ Favorite Award; and accolades from the Paris, Los Angeles, and New England Book Festivals. Connect with him on social media @writesfromla or visit mathieucailler.com.

while in traffic 

on an L.A. freeway,

in the fast lane,

going zero, I look out

and see a pigeon


it has but one leg,

and pecks with vigor

at the delight of a

strewn piece of bread


its gentle eyes connect

with mine


soft, pure


and this moment

shall be tucked away

with the others


that have been

gifted to me


solely for 

paying attention


Mathieu Cailler is the author of seven books: a novel, two short story collections, two volumes of poetry, and two children’s titles. His stories, poems, and essays have been featured in over one hundred publications such as Wigleaf, the Saturday Evening Post, and the Los Angeles Times. Cailler has garnered numerous awards for his writing, including a Pushcart Prize; a Readers’ Favorite Award; and accolades from the Paris, Los Angeles, and New England Book Festivals. Connect with him on social media @writesfromla or visit mathieucailler.com.


Michael Moreth is a recovering Chicagoan living in the rural, micropolitan City of Sterling, the Paris of Northwest Illinois.

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