The Words

the words don’t ask us to fake it
and the words don’t ask us to make it
the words just ask us to open
to where we are, to what we are, to who we are

they invite us to tell our story
and they encourage us to speak our truth
they remind us we are free and whole
even when we are broken and caged

come here and be, they beckon
and who can resist that, to come here and be
it’s too easy, it’s too free
it’s too you. it’s too me

when our wail can no longer be contained
we find ourselves at their door
we enter clumsy human beings
and exit creatures of grace

they hold our hearts shamelessly
shape-shifting to whatever is needed
allowing us to unravel our cells
one word at a time

when we are tongue-tied and writer-blocked
they wait patiently for
the trickle or the flood or the downpour
with open arms

so write your words whatever they are
the words your heart is whispering in your ear
the words you are afraid someone will read
the words that will set you free.