8. Richochet

Richochet

Your words tumble out of your mouth

With a ricochet

Whilst all the time you try so hard

Not to stay

With the painful moment.

We circle each other a while.

Wild gesticulations, eyes everywhere

But meeting mine.

Your words and a land slide of story,

The tools you use to push past

The open heart,

To all I know underneath them

That is gory,

And abandoned,

And utterly sad.

“Shhh, little girl”

I want to say.

Though in years you have advance on me.

But perhaps it was easier for me

To shed those tears

My own wounding made.

“Look, sweetheart!”

I want to say.

“There is a little girl stuck on a harsh rock, crying.

She needs you to take care of her.

She needs you to be still.

She needs you to rock her gently,

Back to loving herself.”

And I know you will.

When the standoff with frightened wild horse-words has bolted,

Run out of steam,

And come back through the open gate.

When you can both invite and respond to yourself.

And when you can trust

That I really do love the little girl I see in you.