Face to Face, Who are You?

come on everyone

it’s time to do an exercise

each of you pick a partner

sit, facing one another

stare, deep, into each other’s eyes

do not speak a word

look past the physical, through and into their heart and soul

feel their emotions or listen to their thoughts

whatever you feel or pick up on – just hold

allow them to see you, really see you

who you are, what you’ve done, anything you’ve been through

don’t try to hide any part of you

now – everyone stop, tell each other what you saw

taking turns to hear from your partner

does anything they say resonate as “truth?”

(what was said)

all I see is pain, an enormous amount of pain, it’s so fucking heavy

(how what's said is translated)

I see a beautiful person who’s very scared

she’s worried about being rejected by those most important to her

but, she has strength and knows who she is

she doesn’t have to hide her beauty, her kindness

by doing things she believes

will prove her fears to be correct

she is okay within herself to love enough for anyone

who may not be able to see

past their own fears or self-imposed limitations

about who she is, what she does or has done

she knows if they can’t or won’t accept her

as she is, who she is completely

it isn’t her fault – it is the other’s defect

she has enough love for them and her despite

whatever they won’t allow themselves to have for her

it’s okay, she has enough – she doesn’t need theirs

it’s okay if they don’t want to be around her

to treat her with courtesy, dignity and respect

it’s okay because she will still give “that” to them

she has no delusions that she will change them

she’s not trying to force or manipulate her way

into the hearts of those who are supposed to love her

to support her for who she is no matter what that may be

it’s okay – she tells herself – it’s okay everyday

there’s no more need for her to numb the pain

because she has enough love for all of them

and if nothing ever changes – it’s okay

she doesn’t have to worry about anything anymore

she is who she is, it is what it is, they are who they are

and everything, now – at last, is okay

©September 21, 2014 – Tamara Imes-Nicholas