i know that feeling nothing

has been your saving grace,

~~

protecting you and allowing

you to keep on existing.

~~

but now, waking within

your soul–is joy. 

~~

a bud that longs to flower, 

to spread petals at long last.

~~

to feel the misty dew, 

the warmth of sun upon its face,

~~

and you do your diligent best

to invite this blossoming.

~~

and i am in awe of your courage 

because you also wholly recognize 

~~

that this stirring of emotion requires 

you to likewise feel the burning, 

~~

the ache buried long and deep beneath 

the surface; raw, bleeding and inflamed. 

~~

you face the injury as a dragon that must 

be slayed, and i am inspired 

~~

by your tenacity, how you continue to 

fight and find the strength.

~~

©Heather Pound 2022

image:Flavio Gasperini/Unsplash