16. Therapy is not self-soothing

Therapy is not self-soothing
not a foam-topped amber
or ring of skunky smoke
not the apology I was waiting for
or the memory I forgot

Therapy does not dry tears
or keep my plants alive
or turn off the hurting
In fact, therapy burns sometimes
and burns without warming

Therapy will not answer questions
or quiet the bad dreams
not knead any knots
in either shoulder
or unpick the pockets in skin

Therapy cannot prescribe healing
but therapy listens 

---