A Special Light
Beautiful one
as you descend from the tears of your grandmother
and stumble through
your mother’s fog
remember the light inside you.
It is always there.
I remember a walk by the water
seeing your weary spirit held up by awkward bones
of a youth being sacrificed to
a history repeating itself.
I was helpless in the knowing
all I could do was temporary-
encouraging you to hold on to your heart
as you struggled to be
what your brothers needed
more than you struggled to save yourself.
As we walked
you talked about your burdens
and accepted your destiny.
We would both find redemption
in a yard sale find – a porcelain figurine
that you would put
on Uncle’s new grave to thank him
for coming to find you the so many times
your mother wandered
into short term hope
and forgot everyone else.
You have been shaped by the years
of making peace, healing, and now another war.
Remember your light
that no storm can erase
and rage cannot steal through violence
or the absence
of what should have been.
Do not let your body numb from the battle
forsake the dreams
your ancestors manifested
as you
being the love- feeding your babies
all the possibilities of changing history
forever
guided by your beautiful light.
(For sweet S)