Coming home

Sitting here,

Watching,

Feeling the harshness of reality -

Letting grief bubble up

To be cleared,

Wanting adult words to

Represent pre-verbal feelings -

Words I did not have as a child,

Words my inner child screams

So loudly.

I used to numb it

To shut it up

Because it couldn't have

What it needed.

What I needed.

What I need.

What we all need.

"I am needing tenderness."

Feeling raw,

Like I'm brand new again today,

Every day, sometimes.

Every old way of being

Ultimately

Drops away

Like a sock into the laundry.

And I swing

In the breeze,

Drying my wings -

Learning these new feet.

"I am needing tenderness."