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<b>This spoken word piece is another combination of two poems. 'See Yourself' is previously unpublished, and 'Your Solace' is from my first anthology, 'The Light Touch of Liberty.'</b>

<center>_________</center>

<center><h4>See Yourself</h4></center>

<center>_________</center>

Drop your burdens
And let dawning light caress your face.

You hold a vision that is yet
Unsteady on its feet
Amidst rushing lines of traffic
The clicks and taps
Of impassioned argument
And shouts that melt
Into roaring cacophony.

You stand on the edge of
A bridge unbuilt
But even so…

Let it rise.

You linger – still –
In a half-forgotten world
Of myth-making and magic

You feel the weight
Of an unspoken history
Echoes of a time
When storms swept in
Bearing a song of wrath
That consumed those who took it to heart
And said, ‘there can be no other way.’

You still see the cold eyes
That seared your soul
You hear shouts of accusation
Tremble through the halls
Of a home you once loved.

You hear sisters and brothers
Speak with a syrup-drenched
Lack of sincerity
And you remember the grief
You remember the rain
but for now…

Let it fall.

Inhale a fresh breeze
And see yourself
Through the eyes of a friend
Who has beheld your truth.

Remember your mischief:
The gleam of mirth in your eyes
The bright easy laughter
The flick of your wrist
That sent magic
On its spiralling dance
Through the ethers.

Remember your loving heart.

Drop your burdens
And watch love unfurl
(fragile, yet hopeful)
Like a flower
Kissed by morning dew.

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<center><h4>Your Solace</h4></center>

<center>_________</center>

You never believed that solace was in sight
It's not our way, your conscience said.
Our way is
The path of fortitude.

Our way is
Ever-sacrificing
Ever-selfless
Ever-ready
To place ourselves
Into the line of fire
And never complain of burns.

We are the rock
That stands still always
The solace
The strength
The shelter
For those who cannot stand alone.

You never believed your solace was in sight
But now, as the sun sets
You fall to your knees
And let the fading rays
Drench your face
Your shoulders
Your trembling hands:
Weakened by the howling winds
For whom you could never bend
Never break
Never succumb
For you were a Guardian.

The Guarded Ones whisper:
You were my solace
My strength
My shelter
When I had none
So now:
Go.
Find your joy.

Your solace.

_________

<i>The image is a Pexels stock image.</i>