Introspection (Page 13)

The hidden underside of a large glacier is visible through the turquoise waters of Antarctica.

Wearing my mask,
you see what I let you.
Only showing,
what is acceptable.
I hold back the pain,
pretend it’s all roses.
Never let you see,
what’s under the surface.

[continue]. . .

A fork stands atop a gravel road, near mountains. The tines are touching the tiny gravel beneath them. A few cars and a couple of fences can be seen in the distance, lining the road.

a fork in the road actually represents five choices.
We can go forward in one clear direction or the other.
We can go back the way we came.
We can sit right where we are and remain comfortable…

[continue]. . .

Looking out from within a darkened room, the indigo night sky is aglow, littered with stars.

I thought that I would sit down, and write just how I feel,
but right now, this point in time, nothing seems quite real.

[continue]. . .

A photograph of a Monarch butterfly hanging from a cluster of purple and orange flowers

The way that I was made,
the people I have known,
have all played their role,
in the way that I have grown.

All the things I’ve gone through,
the trials I have faced,
all those things, both good and bad,
have led me to this place.

[continue]. . .

A woman stands on a long, wooden dock that stretches out into the distance. She is wearing a lightweight, ivory-colored jacket, striped stockings, and a pair of Converse Chuck Taylor, All Star, high-top sneakers. With both hands, she holds an old suitcase in front of her. It is made of light brown leather, is water-stained, and has a handful of torn and worn out pieces of travel stickers stuck to its front. One of the matching, leather securing straps is missing.

I started looking deep inside.
Finding ways to let down my guard
and be true to who I am
instead of running and hiding from myself.

(695 words)

[continue]. . .