i wish i could take you

by the hand and show you

all the good,

 

all the things that you

intrinsically possess.

 

the qualities, nuances, talents,

and expressions of these

that make up who you are,

that make you unique

and likeable

and altogether lovely.

 

but the heavy truth is that

the reflection in my eyes

is not enough,

never enough.

no, you must

gather this

yourself.

 

place this in your basket,

bit by bit. and do not

filter with cruel,

unforgiving sight,

 

speaking of yourself things unkind,

things that you would never speak

out loud of others.

 

and whose voice is that whispering

to you anyway, the accent, tempo,

and unloving flavour of the words?

 

do not let that voice become your

own, resist it fierce for it is a stealer

of all that is good.

 

and there is good, much good to be

gathered within the garden of your

nature.

 

and since i cannot

make you see

-not really-

my hope is that

you will understand,

accept, embrace this

in a little while

and on your own

and may it last.

 

©Heather Pound 2023

image: Fran via Unsplash