this was the moment of Yes
the day of Not Afraid
time hung high for quieting the mind
and becoming enveloped in now
will this ache define you
or will you redefine it?
she was never sure how to answer that question
but most often forgot to pose it
the bruising
the bruising and pulping of her heart
she wanted to gently soak it in warm milk
and rub ointment on the blackened shadows
then shoot it off into space
it was easier to be fearful of the imaginary goblins of the future
than confront the apparitions of the present
who had decided to linger for tea
and swish around in front of the archways
casting inverted darkness on the bare floor
with a broom one cannot swat them away
pests can be eliminated with swiftness
fumigation is only successful if you aren't knotted to what you mean to destroy
take a step and it only pulls them in concentric unison along
she wanted to travel without the sticky web of familiar unwelcomes
imagined a lighter existence
i'm sorry but i have to let one of you go
after clumped years of simultaneous dependence and despise
i'm tired of choking as you wrap the tangle tighter against my throat
she could saw through but one taut stronghold at once
Fear was first in the priority of elimination
with knobbed muscly fingers it clung to her legs
shrieking and falling on its weight to add drag to its escort
but i'm your favorite
you love me best
clinging to you is not the afterbirth of love she replied
but instead indicates the slow suicide of my soul
and i want to put the knife down
i need to breathe Yes more than no
and embrace Not Afraid more tightly than you ever bound me
©2009 melissa glenn
