my perfect square

When I was born, I was an untouched square. Then—life happened.

Crumpled, torn, ripped, and shorn: all providing experience.

Crumpling helps me find courage, when afraid, to speak out against atrocities.

Tearing strengthens me against weakness when I want to fall apart.

Ripping to bits proves that I can pull myself together; no matter how impossible it may seem.

Now, I am in the midst of my shearing: shorn of pride, shorn of dignity, shorn of happiness.

As with shearing of sheep, once this season has passed, once I have learned what I should,

I will grow more beautiful—pure and white and untouchable—once it is over.  

*inspired by the children's book Perfect Square by Michael Hall