I went outside into nature to ponder and found I was sitting on empty,

scooped out like watermelon rind, flesh devoured on a hot summer day

and discarded in the sun

~~~~

The next moment fear began to whisper tight and cruel that I would not have

what it takes for the very next wave that life might bring,

or even the very next day

~~~~

Fear mushroomed, sucked out my breath and wailed, “Meaningless, empty,

fruitless and useless.” Words like these are quicksand to the human heart

if any attention is given

~~~~

But then I remembered, that a vessel that is empty can always catch the rain,

simply by embracing its shape

–of hollow

~~~~

And instead of a prison, ‘empty’ became a container to be filled,

and I looked beyond myself and saw all the wondrous things about

waiting to be chosen

~~~~~

—-’empty’ is not a final destination, it is the beginning of being filled with something new.

~~~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image: Danëlle Moolman

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