beautiful pain

Looking through glass: Henrietta, Texas

going to school
learning to write your name
scratching little squiggles on the page
not knowing who is your friend
does anyone like you
realizing not everyone will
or does

bearing children
watching them grow
taking their first steps
having to let go
hearing that first no and every no
that signal you are not alone
you cannot always have a say

growing up
seeing yourself become so much
wondering if it will ever be enough
living with your heart on your sleeve
in slow motion as the years go by
crushed with knowing how the world works
devastated by rejection and loss

looking ahead
reaching for goals
hoping that someone wants to join you
doing it alone because you can and must
until your beautifully painful humanity
is recognized as something wonderful
and the rubble becomes treasure beyond price