Perfectly Reasonable

 

I want to tell you

If they have made perfectly reasonable requests 

And you have not been able to comply 

You would like to please them 

But you cannot bring yourself in line

Your spirit rebels 

Your mind will not follow the rules given

Even your body fights you 

When you try to walk the line

To stay in the box 

To act appropriately 

To understand what is expected 

To be that which is STANDARD 

They have told you there is something wrong with you

They blame you, fault you

Tell you that you must become little, predictable 

Manageable 

Yet, no, you do not

You cannot

I just want you to know 

Just know that I see you 

Know that there are many of us 

Know that you are beautiful 

You don't have to comply 

You don't have anything WRONG with you

And you don't need to be fixed 

You are wondrously, beautifully made 

I celebrate all that you are 

And if you forget, then come and find me

I promise to remind you 

Strength

 Often, aggression and narcissism masquerade as strength

Always look for the fruit of the tree, there lies the truth

Look, listen and read the signs, for they are always there 

There are times when strength is messy 

When it faces the darkness bequeathed to it, so long avoided  

It laughs at its own faults and takes the lessons 

It draws boundaries, in the face of so much pressure to be compliant 

Strength knows its own center, and seeks its own equilibrium 

It wastes no energy on what it knows is corrupted from within 

It protects those who need a hand taking that next step

And honors the Earth

Strength is focused, certain and self-aware, without being self-serving 

It balances restraint and action 

It shows compassion while never being manipulated 

It does not seek perfection, in itself or others 

Yet it endures, and overcomes