It Takes Strength
written by: Claire Philip
Learning to swim
Up and out
Of the black lake
Of sadness
Takes strength.
It would be easier
To sink to the bottom
And drown.
Learning to lick
Your wounds
Each time
They crack open
And bleed
Takes strength.
It’s tempting to
Rub in salt.
Keeping calm
Every instance
A sharp memory
Rises up
To pierce your peace
Takes strength.
Learning to raise
Your vibration
From heavy darkness
To buoyant light
Is a daily practise
That takes
So
Much
Strength,
When fear is more familiar.
Choosing to feel love
And spend time
In joy
Takes strength.
Pausing
To breathe out pain
And inhale appreciation
Takes strength.
It takes bravery to feel
What’s real
And choose something better.
Painting your emotions
With the intention
Of accepting pleasure
Amidst bad weather.
This
Takes
Strength.
Moving your body
And wearing a smile
That feels fake
Until it reaches your eyes
And becomes real
Takes strength.
Having faith in the infinite love
That holds up the silver Moon above
And listening to the whispers
Of ancient intuition
Takes strength.
But when you rise victorious
And meet the bliss
You’ve been missing
You’ll know this madness
Has been questioning your mettle
And you’ve passed every test.
Made every whimper
Matter.
Because now you can
Reach down into the water
And offer a hand
To the drowning girl.
You can make each rise
To the surface
That little bit easier.
Knowing you can rescue yourself –
Or help another.
And that is strength.
- It Takes Strength - January 4, 2021
