Tenderly

Sometimes the shock of what I’ve lived

breaks through

and tears my being in two

fighting to stand

fighting to breathe

its impossible to see an open path

ahead of me

as longingd thwarted

steal my energy

and then I remember its

the being with

and anchoring in

that brings me breath

healing and

openness

deep inside my heart

I hold so many memories

I forget how tenderness feels

when startle responses

pull me apart

and really only tenderness

allows my heart to fully feel

is the healing balm

that leads my being

to groundedness

and inner calm

and so it is I let myself rest awhile

remembering to tread this path forward

tenderly

for the world

as well as my soul

so desperately needs

all of this healing tenderness