You Never Let Me Fall

I won't let you fall.

I know the weight you carry,
the years folded tight in your chest
the ache of old expectations
crumbling under new realities.

It's dark in there,
come out, come out,
embrace who you are,
and become your own shelter,
a place where your softness is safe
and your voice doesn't echo back as doubt
but sings steady and real and true.

Even when you want to vanish,
to stay small,
stay tired,
stay hidden,
I will remind you

That is not who you are.

You are stronger than that.
You think you've failed already,
think you were born with less to give
because someone once told you so.

But I’m telling you now,
they lied
they didn't see you.

And if I kept quiet,
let you believe it was true,
I would be no better
than the ones who taught you
to hate your own skin.

I'm not perfect,
not wise in any way that counts

but I see you,
the real you.

And I'm not going anywhere
until you look in the mirror
and see what I see.

--

*For my dear friend who has always been there for me, and now it's my turn.