the unlearning

of all the things that you

never wanted to become

 

perhaps they were thrust

upon you, perhaps at the

time you knew no other way

 

but now you have the chance

to choose, intentional.

 

you hold all of these up to light,

examine them careful and say,

‘this thing i thought was part of me

was something that i learned.

 

it’s not who i am intrinsic,

and knowing this now, i now can

learn to let it go.

 

let it wash away in water clean,

restored.’

 

what a powerful place, this space

of intention deliberate, freedom.

this position that was yours from

the beginning had you only known.

 

but now that you do, you will never

live thoughtless again.

 

Heather Pound 2023

Photo by Thomas Bjornstad on Unsplash