To Take, To Hold, To Keep.
……..
I do not know what to do with open hands.
They stretch toward me, fingers curled in offering,
and I shrink back, spine stiff, throat tight,
like a stray dog too long without kindness,
like a child who has learned that gifts come with debts.
*
I do not know how to take without tallying,
without weighing the weight of every kindness,
without whispering to myself, you didn’t earn this,
you should have done it alone,
you should have bled for it first.
*
I was made for the uphill battle,
for scraped knees and clenched fists,
for clawing at the edges of my own endurance,
so when the rope is tossed down,
when the door is held open,
when the world says, here, take this,
I hesitate—
because I have only ever trusted what I bled for.
*
But I am so tired.
My hands ache from carrying the weight of my own worth,
and still, I fight to lift it up, alone.
Still, I whisper, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it
until the words crack like dry leaves in my throat,
until the ground beneath me trembles,
until I collapse under the weight I refuse to set down.
*
And still, the hands remain, waiting.
I’m learning that some parts of the world do not take back what they have given.
The rope dangles, the door stands open,
and I, stubborn and weary and undeserving,
reach out, just this once—
and take
what I so desperately need.
About the Creator
Marvelous Michael
I’m so glad you are here!
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:35 NKJV
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Comments (16)
Very interesting poem and enjoy lot.....
This is incredible. Every stanza is felt through the double-edged sword of asking for help—such a great ode to healing.
Congrats on TS!! These lines spoke to me because when one has many hardships, then it begins to even out, that person continues to wait for the other shoe to drop on them, another calamity.I was made for the uphill battle, for scraped knees and clenched fists, for clawing at the edges of my own endurance, so when the rope is tossed down, when the door is held open, when the world says, here, take this, I hesitate— because I have only ever trusted what I bled for.
Wow, just wow. Really took my on that journey. Thanks for pouring that out on paper.
Strength isn’t just enduring alone—it’s knowing when to accept an open hand. You deserve that too.
Such a lot of really visual images in here to denote lack of trust and hesitation.
Your poem is profoundly moving, capturing the struggle of accepting help with raw honesty.
The emotion in this poem is so raw and inspiring! Thanks for sharing it and congratulations for being the Top Story!
Such a beautiful poem!
Gorgeous & inspiring!
This is poem is so masterful! Every line is just a gem. Well deserved TS!
Congrats on top Story!
Oh, this one hits deep! you don’t have to bleed to deserve good things. You don’t have to carry the weight alone. Strength isn’t just in endurance; it’s in knowing when to reach out. The world isn’t always a battlefield—sometimes, the rope is just a rope, and the open door is meant for you. Take it. You deserve it. 😊💖
Excellent! Very relatable, I love this.
Astounding! A great depiction of what trauma may feel like. The top story is well deserved.
Big hugs. This is heartbreaking. I definitely understand the heart of where this is coming from.