8/16

I don't know where you are but I am finding you
slowly, day by day
you are emergering in new colors, I am peeling
off layers like wrapping paper, still
I can barely see your face
you're beautiful
I know because I remember you
I remember being you, and If
I could see you today, I would wrap my arms around you
I would grab you by the shoulders, look you
in the eyes and whisper in your ear "you don't owe anyone
an explanation
for who you are, and don't you dare
apolagize for the way your eyes refuse to shine."
I would cry for you
because I know you will, time and time again
apolagize for taking up space on this earth,
you will learn
to love these too soft hands
and too soft heart
and legs that carry you further than you ever thought possible
but not far enough to carry you away from those scars, my dear
there are some things
you can't run from
you will learn to lie
to conceal
you will learn detachment like an art, memorize the ways
to avoid letting anyone in like the lyrics
to a song, you will walk with your head down
day after day, and then slowly
you will learn truth, like a new language
still unfamiliar
on your tongue
on my tongue
you will fill the hole in your chest with things like love
and vulnerablity
authinticity, you will be afraid
terrified in fact, but you will learn
to be brave
like I am learning
like I am carving you out of stone like a fossil, a hidden treasure
you are beautiful and gleaming
and I think I am too, and if
I could see you today, I would wrap my arms around you
I would grab you by the shoulders, look you
in the eyes and whisper in your ear
"your differences
are what make you remarkable, and don't you dare
forget."