Cradled in the crook of my arm, safe
Against my sturdy chest
I am the one who will keep your fingers warm
Lay you down to rest
My darling, I pray you dream
Peacefully
That the rough edges and scattered lines of this life I give you
Do not intoxicate you
Do not poison your softened mind.

There are roads you will not take, my love
There are words you will not say
But I beg you
Build your earthen skin into a castle
Let the tears fall
From your dark cheeks
Dig your fingernails too deep into the dirt
And lick the red juice of the pomegranate off
your swollen lips
Love ceaselessly
Love endlessly
Every leaf, raindrop, butterfly, and ladybug
That creeps along the forest floor
Every windowsill and rough pathway
That tugs at you to
Go, go, go
Scoop it all into your arms, my dear
And hold it to your chest
Let the piercing wind fill your lungs
So you have the strength
To laugh
Louder than all the rest.

There will be times
When the walls and doors
Scream curse words at you
When the ceiling sinks too low to the floor
But do not dig down, my love
It is okay to say
Yes
Stand up and let the floorboards fall
Crashing to your feet
Revel in the sound of old wallpaper
Crumbling as it peels to the ground
For, you see,
The house is never broken
Only preparing for the new
And if I’ve said nothing here, my love
Then may these be the words that hold true
Let it change
Let it crack and break and bend and move
Metamorphosis
It’s all that’s left here
In the end, my love
So put on your rain boots
And splash in the mud, for your bones are still strong and
Your unbroken heart is only just beginning
To hum the tune of this
Newborn song