My tears are words
spilling out in torrents
speaking the unspoken
spitting from me like poison,
like pain;

Better out than in
better cried than said
better drained than festering
better tears than rages or shouts
or fists
or weapons.

And now my words
are tears
weeping my heartache
wailing my anguish
writing my soul out;
Pulled out, drawn out painfully
like splinters, like sickness;
Scribbling my sadness
in every stroke of the pen;

Better told than silent
better shared than hoarded
better out than in.

Tear-words my safety valve
and word-tears my sanity;
Utterance my survival,
Word my deliverer,
my healing.