
Voices rose in sharp keening The dry grass caught And the world began to burn Ancestors' voices whispered in their ears As they focused their rage into a reckoning -gws

Voices rose in sharp keening The dry grass caught And the world began to burn Ancestors' voices whispered in their ears As they focused their rage into a reckoning -gws

To the pantheon of storytellers You are my inspiration My kindred tribe Your vulnerability, beautiful Your truth-telling, freeing Your honesty, a gift It is from your courage and example Your experience, strength and hope I draw bravery to open my own heart And tell my story -gws

Men can spread themselves like weeds in a wind storm and women must endure the consequences -gws

You said I was your rock But rocks succumb To weather and water And you are a storm -gws

"You are kind and show such grace." Thanks, but my self control does not erase That I'll still punch you in the face I practice gratitude To alter my attitude And manage the triggers that ruin my mood So just because I choose to invoke A gag order upon my own throat Know that I am no joke You will find my manner is mild But don't get it twisted, Child I am still raging and wild -gws

You are not broken You are wounded Broken things have damage That can only be repaired They are forever left weakened And will always be at risk Of the repair failing one day Wounded things can heal If you tend them gently and well Wounds knit and the scar tissue makes them stronger Wounds stretch and though they may ache from time to time They will strengthen Though forever altered Healing makes the wound whole again So you, too, will stretch and strengthen You will grow stronger The wound cannot be unmade And its scar will be a landmark upon you Reminding you that you survived And you became stronger for it Be gentle with your self judgment You are wounded Not at all broken And you can and will heal With patience, time, and tender care -gws

A quart of anger A pinch of shame A tablespoon of rage And a dash of pain A pint of sorrow And a gallon of regret Blend them together And let them ferment Let set until sufficiently bitter Serve cold to set the liquor Some may disapprove of spite But as humble pie It tastes just right - gws

It is said healing is not linear. My healing journey must be the most intense roller coaster ever constructed. -gws

Beware love spells. Beware the wanting. Beware the asking. You may get more than you bargained for. -gws

I used to write for you Now I only write about you You do not have the patience Or maybe the capacity for poetry -gws