Treatment

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.