Once upon a time there was a beautiful hearth,
warm like hot orange tea,
spiced with an arm around my shoulder,
trimmed overhead with a garland draping an archway,
lit with warm flame,
tipped atop honey candlesticks,
standing at attention to salute my approach
to the fire.
I'll take this hand of mine, open palm wide,
fill it full of your stars, friends, laughing, spitting.
I'll enfold them in my grip
I'll lift them higher than I can see,
spin myself around like a prima ballerina
en point, arriere,
open my hand mid-turn and
let you aaaaaaaall flyyyyy awaaaaay....
To the cosmos again you return
to imbibe, rejoice, and celebrate.
Leaving me sitting still,
listening to the clear air passing by my ears.
Not one threat or fear lives in this breeze.
I am alive again!
Thank God for this lesson before I die,
thanking him that I can try one more go around,
never again letting in the specter of disdain
for my flesh, my innards, my people, my blood.
Bow my head and release angry thoughts,
they need no longer haunt me.
Now good people...find me, find this place,
walk across my threshold and into my hot embrace,
I have been waiting, waiting, waiting,
for this very day.