Not the World

And the world responds,

tilting itself to the same degree

as your smile does when it curls

As quickly as you would imagine

Impatience and ignorance cannot see

the motion—frustration—you shake it

Flip it upside down

Stare at it, and see nothing

Back away

Whorl your smile even deeper

Take a walk

It is methodically incremental 

despite what gravity promises

Turning up the flame on the stovetop

will not do anything

Instead, turn up your own

and all of it will follow

You can only change yourself

in moments

Not the world at once