You Don't Need To

Poem

You don’t need to hide yourself 
from me,
not wholly, not always.
I know we shrink away 
sometimes,
even from our own shadows that follow us.


You don’t need to pretend to 
be strong,
not every moment, not every day.


Let go of your shoulders— 
Let them rest for a while,
they have carried the 
weight of mountains
Take a deep breath 
Let every cell in your body renew.


Just close your eyes—
Let them realize 
they hold the 
depth of oceans
so let them see 
and
let them be seen.


Feel the waves within you
rising and falling,
Feel their flow—
how they long to reach the shore,
to the safe place where
you will always find me 
As long as I'm here.


You don’t need to pretend to be someone else,
Not always, not now.


You don’t need to wear a smile like a habit
because I can see your eyes 
speaking
a different language.


I don’t understand any 
other tongue,
but your eyes teach me
what words never could.


You don’t need to pretend,
not with me,
not when the world asks 
so much already.