Heather Pound

it’s uncomfortable,

this part of you that wakes up again

with pins and needles sharp and has

you stamping the floor to bring back

circulation.

this part has raised its head sudden

and fierce, and while you know that

it must breathe, you worry that

it will take over entire.

but this is only a portion

of who you are,

remember this.

you are so much more than this place

that carries this sadness, this pain.

you have parts that co-exist

that are celebratory and loving

and beat with purpose strong.

sadness, or whatever the feeling

uncomfortable is, is not your entirety,

not your name.

and so, do not just swallow back down,

you can let this speak courageous,

let it share its tale to process.

honor it well and thank it for

the role it plays on behalf

of the whole,

but then you can lift back up

your head

and also remember the parts that

are full of joy.

because the difficult emotions are

only part of who you are, but

nevertheless they

must be heard.

—you can release the bottled-up emotions inside that you’re afraid to feel, because they are not all of who you are.

Heather Pound 2023