Serenity Prayer

god grant us the serenity / to accept the things we cannot change / the courage to change the / things we can / and the wisdom to know el differencio / such as / true Heinz ketchup / vs Aldi home brand / the subtle grief of budget beans / the betrayal of margarine that tries to pass for butter / the smear of compromise / on morning toast / god grant us patience / when the oat milk separates in coffee / and when someone says it’s the same thing / but you know / it’s not / and you don’t have the words to argue / over condiments / anymore / give us courage / to walk away from relationships / but never from the good mayonnaise / help us forgive ourselves / for buying the cheap pesto / again / even when we knew / even when it smelled like despair / teach us to accept the own-brand biscuits / in hospital waiting rooms / and the whisper of realisation / that nothing / is ever quite the same / once you’ve tasted / the full-fat / the full-price / the full truth / of what was / always yours.

Max Wallis (@maxwallis) is the author of Polari Prize-shortlisted Modern Love (2011) and Everything Everything (2016). His poems have appeared or are forthcoming in The Rialto, Poetry Scotland, Magma, Poetry London, Fourteen Poems and Vogue. He edits The Aftershock Review (@aftershockpoetry) and his new book Well Done, You Didn’t Die  from which is poem is taken is out in November with Verve. @verve.publisherofpoetry He lives in Lancashire, with complex PTSD.  You can pre order a copy here: www.vervepoetrybookshop.com