She was bold once.
Maybe twice.
She never danced
for fear they’d laugh
she never flew
for fear she’d crash
She never wrote
rarely spoke
nearly choked
on fear she’d err
She walked softly
breathed softly
spoke softly
so softly
She ate little
stayed little
mattered little
so little
so she thought
She tried to be so light
she wouldn’t make
a footprint
but she did
And once you make
a footprint
once you take breath
you’re here
you matter
there is no turning back.
From The Human Experience (iUniverse, 2007).
Used with the author’s permission.
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