Coal Cracks by Avery Lim (15, Singapore)*

​coal cracks into diamonds.
search deep within your crevices and mine
all that is black and impure to be harvested as 
our garish garnishes 
until the walls of your pericardium are pinkish and raw.
probe your weaknesses and gouge them out

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coal cracks into diamonds.
apply pressure until your eyes stop bleeding out
and you are turned beautiful. go on
just a little while longer. press
just a little harder. we are imperfect and blemished and broken
but all faults can be purged. we can be fixed.
stop screaming.

coal cracks into diamonds.
cement your fault lines and bandage your scars 
and endure. be no Atlas against the weight of your world-
lean down and let it crush you.
let it mould you.
give up and give in into what you have become
eyes empty but
clear.

coal cracks coal cracks coal cracks coal cracks coal

shatters.