lost earring on the ground
reminder of the community, the joy
I was too heartbroken and drained to step out into
to bask in so rarely, so overwhelmingly
I slept early to go to the temple in the morning
breathe in incense, feel the ground beneath me
with a single prayer on my tongue
release, relief
right now, I tremble as the snakeskin sheds
fearing what’s within
i feel sweat on my skin
under my probably polyester dress
this rare morning is warm
air not quite crisp
yet my hair is light, the wind flows through me
having shed my own laden clothes
and neglect clinging to my scalp with an itch
i wish i could have looked, could have felt this beautiful last night
be seen truly by the eyes around me
with a little less fear than usual
resentment creeps with regret in the shadows of my thoughts
at this world, at this hurt
at those i feel caused it
but instead, I’ll choose to breathe
place my fear into a commitment towards change
actioning hope
and pray as the incense lights
for it to burn once more
concatenating our words, and our names