enkindle

Click photo to view artist on Instagram.

There is no way to show up
in the circle,
as one could or might,
as fully as one can,
with the context and wisdom
one may have
in a single moment ...

and ensure safety
from others’ judgment
of our belonging.

There will always be something
to pick apart,
dismiss,
or demean.
After all,
it is impossible
to stay clean,
when crawling
through the mud.

Sometimes people cannot see us
oftentimes,
people cannot see us.
Rather,
what is seen is
a projection
of a story,
to which,
we may not have
editing credits.

Rather than
stepping into
the light,
we may buffer ourselves
with silence
keeping whatever
magic
we have,
safely
secret.

And, our magic will die with us.

Or,
we can risk
getting ensnared
in another's net
for the fleeting chance
to add our kindling
to the fire.

Heavy-heartedly,
I wonder about
the fire.
How it will sustain itself
if too many of us
keep our
fated flickers
quietly
to ourselves?
Or,
we blow the light
of others' out?

The fire
belongs to the earth.
We belong to the earth.
We are stewards
of these cleansing flames.

We forget so often
and suffer
in silence,
or disbelief,
or outrage,
when the fire
begins
to dwindle
and a wipping chill
threatens to
sweep what is left
of our hope and grit,
out,
unceremoniously,
with the ashes.

I wonder
how we might
create sanctuary
around the fire?
Offering incentive
to those
willing
to risk
immolation,
for this sacred
cause?