Time of Mourning

This
Is a time
Of mourning

A time
For feeling
Loss
 
The loss of people

All they were

All they would have been
All they will not now
Have the chance
To be

The loss

Of a false
Sense of safety
 
The loss
Of the world
As we wanted it
To be
 
So much simpler
To blame
Than to feel

But today please

Let’s not
Blame
 
Today please
Let’s be still
And feel
Our unspeakable losses

Our individual life changing losses

Our collective world changing losses

Let us feel them
Let us mourn them
 
And someday

Let us heal from them

Raised In Fear

I was raised in fear
But I won’t live
In fear

I will live
My life

Within

Clear viewing distance
Of what scares me

Instead of tucked

Deep within
The walls
Of safety

I won't pretend
That fear

Isn't powerful

But I will

Remind fear
That I
Am powerful too

I was raised in fear

But I won’t live
In fear

Instead

I will honor
The life
I have been given

And in the midst of

And in spite of  
All there is
To be afraid of

I will

Find the courage
To live bravely
And well

Tour Guide

I think
What was hard
When people
Tried to comfort

Was that
They tried
Too hard

They felt pressure
To say
It would all
Be ok
When it wasn’t
And wouldn’t
Be so

They felt compelled
To take the lead

On rebuilding
My old life
When I
Had to build  
Something new

They become tour guides
Intent on quickly

Walking me through
The pain

When the truth is

You can't guide anyone
Quickly or slowly
To a place
You haven’t been

 

And who is willing

To provide company
On a dark journey
They cannot lead

Who is willing
To be a fellow tourist
On a trip
With no tour guide
Straight
Through the heart
Of hell
 
Who is willing
I will tell you

Not many