poetry

Close your eyes and remember

to let the flowers grow.

Remember that once

you did not know what the word flower looked like

and I know it is hard to remember now

but if nothing else remember this:

one day you were small

and you sat on a bench and you wore a sweater that was too big for you

and your hair was in your face

and you smiled anyway.

one day you braided your own hair

and put it in two little buns

that stuck out from your head

like ears

one day you smiled at nothing

except for the sun that woke you up

and the day began

before your sorrows

and one day you looked shyly through your own fingertips

as if the only thing that could separate the world from you

was your tiny hands

and the only thing that was separating you from the world

fluttered and whispered and curled around your shoulders

gently; softly; slowly.

remember these words

you are still a girl in a sweater that is too big

and your hair still falls across your face

and tomorrow the day will begin with the sun

whether you let your sorrows beat it

or not.

and no matter how many times that the world has wronged you

your eyes will kiss the scars

because one day you will finally learn

that the word flower means nothing

and that the only beautiful thing about a flower

lies in the light on your face

when you look at one.