woman worthy

to a sister fringed and frayed from life's rags, afraid of being unknown and unloved

my love,
your eyes carry your spirit's wearied wear and i hear
you ask in words spoken otherwise,
loved?
cherished?
honored?
haved and held?
beauty surrendered to spoiled milk stains
and youth's fancies and dances gone with
soiled hands and chapped cheeks;
friends now fading;
time constrained to
serving others' mouths and wounds
and life's rhythmic demands.

seek deep within
and remember,
rise from these ashes
as woman worthy.
you are worthy of love
you are worthy of cherishing.
you are worthy of being held.
know yourself and stand in truth;
you are not alone.

seek the beauty,
mark the joys,
reminisce past confidences
and choose to walk in their light,
for my dear, you are woman worthy.

remember your strength?
remember your adventures?
remember your heart?
remember the spirit calling you?
remember the mountains and rivers and waterfalls?
remember your voice?
remember your fluid tongue and the languages it loved?
remember your eye that captured visions not seen by others?
remember play?

put behind the lies,
the words that linger to bind you to this
life of self lost.
put behind the feeling
that significance is found in the glory of other's praise;
search for it in the voice that never changes,
the one who dances over you because he calls you
daughter.
put behind the mantle that
has been crusted by other's shit and shame,
the mantle that weighs you down
and hides starry eyes and widened smiles.

beautiful one, you are woman worthy.