THE REDEMPTION

SHE REMEMBERED THE SMELL OF THAT HOSPITAL DOORWAY

THE VERY LAST TIME SHE SAW HER DRIFT AWAY .

AND THOSE VERY HANDS SHAKE TO RECOUNT

THE THINGS YOU LOSE , THE FEELINGS YOU CAN'T COUNT.

SHE LOOKED UP TO HER LIKE A SCENE FROM A MOVIE,

SEARCHING FOR ANSWERS IN HER MEMORY ,

THERE SHE WAS IN FRONT OF A WOMAN

WHOSE BLOOD SHE SHARED , A STRANGER ON THE OTHER HAND

THE AIR WAS HEAVY WITH EMOTION

CONVERSATIONS NEATLY FORMED WITH CAUTION .

LIKE A STRING READY TO BREAK ,

SHE STARED AROUND FOR A REASON TO RUN,

HOW CAN FORGIVENESS BE EASY?

WHO COULD EXPLAIN HOW TO NOT FEEL BETRAYED,

ALL THOSE YEARS SHE COULD NEVER KNOW WHY

SOMEBODY WHO HARBORED HER IN HER WOMB

WOULD LEAVE HER, BUILD A BRAND NEW WORLD ?

THAT SEVEN YEAR OLD AND HER PINK SHOES

COULD NOT BUT FEEL THE WEIGHT OF A CHOICE

TO LET GO OF THE PILE OF QUESTIONS

IN EXCHANGE FOR A HUG THAT STILL LEFT NO WARMTH.

YET ALL THOSE YEARS OF HATRED

STEMING OUT FROM THE WANT OF A MOTHER'S EMBRACE

MELTED AS HER EYES TURNED HAZY WITH TEARS

FREED FROM EMPTINESS LIKE A BIRD CAGED FOR YEARS

THAT WAS NOT THE THE LAST TIME SHE ENCOUNTERED LOST

THIS WORLD KNOWS NO COUNT OF MISERIES

YET TO LET GO COULD BE A CHOICE SO LIBERATING

WHEN HOLDING ON HAS NO MORE MEANING .

A LOVER'S INDIFFERENCE OR A FOE'S GAIN ,

SHE KNEW NOT BETTER THAN TO FIGHT LIKE A WARRIOR

IFS AND BUTS IN BETWEEN , CARE NOT SHE WILL.

THE FEAR OF LOSING COULD KEEP YOU FROM TRYING.

AND THERE IN THE MIDDLE OF ONE SUMMER NIGHT

ON THE BALCONY IN DIM LIGHT

SHE HAD FOR THE FIRST TIME, NOTHING TO FEAR.