Unalienating a Friend
CONTEXT: I have a dear friend who believes – as surely as eggs are eggs – that she’s from another planet (composed of ice). It’s easy to scoff, and it’s not how I see the world. But I also know the story of her unimaginably abusive childhood. Perhaps her holding that view makes life bearable? Nevertheless, it also enables her to take a ‘galactic stance’ when she’s observing changes in my behavior! Hmm… how to address?
UN-ALIEN-ATING A FRIEND
You told me you were so proud of me
and my heckles bristled
irritation whistled
from my ears
but in my eyes were tears…
Being proud requires making yourself ‘more’-
just a little wiser,
inhabiting worlds in
which you believe that you - alone - roam
when all we ever want to feel
is safe and free ‘at home'
but we’re already equal
no story – however hideous and cruel –
can ever sully what we are:
the love of Love which always finds us
equal, friend, enough,
at home, here, and not on some
cold lonely star!
To be alien-ated separates you from us all –
and I can only know you at a distance
‘though to me your story’s ‘tall’…
and yet it gives protection which – wise friend -
you wear as close as hand in glove
and I acknowledge this is how Love as you
is also Love.
With a great slug of gratitude for the wordsmithing and resolution sharing this prompted – as you’ll read from tomorrow’s post!