Becoming.

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Love Despite & Through

Love
in spite of fear
Love
in spite of those who do not
Love
to heal ancient wounds
Like tree limbs bow to the wind
groaning into the storm
leaves pulled
like hair
washed in heaven’s waters
clean
in spite
of that which is not in our control

Love
through darkness’s long-fingered grasp
winding tendrils around tender necks
threatening to break;
bow like the limbs
bend like the dance of trees and wind
break
and fall
nestled gently among the fallen leaves
drop seeds into moistened ground
and grow
in spite of the tears

Love
through tears
and see the world through milky glass
light distorted through watery film
give into the bleak and
Love
despite the hollow
naked
alone
as are we all
alike in our fight to
Love despite

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Breathe

Breathe through the birthing pains.
Someday you will look back,
And see how you survived,
And this moment that pains you now
Will become a source of strength.

It will show you your perseverance,
Your tenderness,
to be affected so greatly.

It will show you how you kept on fighting despite the pain.
With gritted teeth and
Determination,
You will see yourself through.

It will be messy and painful.
It will ache and pull at the fibers
of your being.
And you will see it through.

It will relentlessly
slam you into despair—
Wave after wave
will knock you asunder.
And you will see yourself through.

And when you look back,
You will remember fondly
Your strength.
And your love will grow
Through this agony
For yourself.

And all this will be made clear,
For though you don’t see
future you in this moment
That is who you are birthing.
And when looking ahead
If you only see ashes
Look closer

And there amongst the rubble
An armored fist will plunge upward
And you will drag yourself out of this.

This feeling will not last forever.
This pain does not define you,
Breathe fearless warrior
And bask in your glory
Found through this despair.
For though its presence
Seems far off
You’re already heading there.
And when that day comes
You will know
You have become.

~

Author: Angel Marie Russell

Image: Andrew Ridley/Unsplash

Editor: Toby Israel

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