afraid

to be

to speak

Me.

default

to please

all

to swallow

poisons

to smile

though the Heart

aches.

where Love

for Self

has not yet

matured

lack of

enoughness

takes root

bringing

constant recrimination

guilt

angst

such heaviness.

in this vast wilderness

Hope

a tiny Voice

a faint Light

stirrings

of an innate

Self-Regard 🙏