poem: That thing they never taught us

for Tara

Someone informed us once, we could only ever

stand so tall.

Naive children, we believed it-

held yardsticks against

our own potential

ensuring we grew not one inch more of height

than our allotted presence; to have more was,

we believed, to rob from others. And

that damned always unspoken, always present

more deserving after "others," like a threatening

afterthought.

What blasphemy

against a childhood ruled by tape measures

would I speak if I tell you what I know now:

you were always permitted to grow

to hold galaxies in the palm of your hand

if you so desire; more if you do, others

are also freed from small-heartedness? Only

one small thing- the fertilizer for growth

is only found by throwing your self

blindfolded off a cliff. That thing they never

taught us? Flying feels a hell of a lot

like falling...

until you know better.

Reviews

[W.k.kortas]

Yes, what Emily said--it's a loving and wise admonition to fly, damnit, fly. Pitch-perfect in tone and content.

[Marie Anzalone]

Don't we all need that remnder, kortas, that we not only innately know how, but also CAN?

[Emily B]

i wish i had written this for my daughters . . .

[Marie Anzalone]

Please share with them, if you think they would like it. I wrote it for a dear friend. There is plenty of love to go around.

[Cory Barrett]

I want to make that last line my life motto. This is brilliantly written.

[Marie Anzalone]

So great to see you here, Cory, and so glad that my words reached you. Borrow them whenever you want to.