POETRY: Not Alone

There is a trick

to some real human connection

It’s not getting things

out of things. Or

Going into battle. Or

taking more.

But letting things in.

Giving up.

With Less “on guard”

More “unguarded”

So sit down with nothing but yourself,

close your eyes and take a breath.

with that breath,

tell

the world

your

deepest

darkest

secret.

That way the rest of us can empty our lungs

in relief

knowing that our own “troubles” are shared,

And there’s no such thing as going it alone,

But altogether, just “going it.”

With

less “everything will be okay”

more “everything is always okay.”