we carry things
some our own
some older than us
some belong to others
we carry them all the same
in the tender light we navigate
by we religiously carry
the jagged edges of
broken promises
the tight tangle of
transgressions
trees cut down bridges burned
sacks of ashes
watered by tears
salting open wounds
a legacy of
falling skies
dark corners
places where words failed
holes inside
filled with unrequited desire
dangerous dreams
and other sharp objects
we carry things we can’t set down
things that define the way we walk
this life the way we drink it down
the way we sing its song
burdens that bind us up
break us in places we can’t reach
bend us into shapes that won’t be remade
except by fire marching up mountains
or breaking cycles
things that
can’t understand themselves
instruct us to suffer the load
they can point the way
give you the reason
steel up your resolve to
lift them higher to dance them done
to settle the score right the scale
pay the debt find the balance
restore reciprocity
transform the load into
promises kept
honor restored
glory
victorious
