mechanisms coping in poetry

coping with loneliness is like flexing a muscle
for a while, it is just a normal thing you have
to do sometimes but too long, it’s a cramp then
a full charliehorse until the point you’ve been
in agonizing spasm so long you don’t even know
how to unflex your burning leg back into shape
loneliness becomes a feedback loop compounding
like bank interest up onto itself over decades
until you’re a millionaire four centuries dead
so walk your loneliness off early if you can
before the whole process goes to your head