sew the sadness 

into the hood

of this black sweatshirt

sew the numbness into the sleeves

tuck my fingers above the thread

so my physicality will not escape

this fabric tomb

knot these strings like a noose

made of shoelaces

and staple these pockets tight

see, I am trying not

to be defined by my depression

but when everything is black

and braided together

I often cannot remember where I begin

and the monster ends