mending, together
a poem about emotional luggage & carrying burdens
You saw my open suitcase. I let you in.
It held wrinkled and misplaced button downs,
Dirty socks strewn about. Careless. Weary.
Lazy or tired? Downtrodden? Defeated?
I felt like a clown for letting you see inside
Does this feeling exist elsewhere?
Can I archive the pain somewhere it can hide?
Perhaps I should have zipped away the confines,
Because all I can do is compare your luggage with mine
I spy t-shirts neatly folded, organization divine
While mine is a mess beholden—a sad sight for longing eyes.
I sank into myself, the clothing on my chest melted into my skin
But you showed me the rest, where your heart has been.
It wasn’t perfect, no, not at all. And I felt relief knowing,
The two of us weren’t afraid to be witnessed by the other.
There were crumpled clothes wrecked,
With their tatters and stains and scars
And we looked at each other with sad,
Understanding smiles. We let our shame be compiled,
Sorting through the piles, and we figure out what to mend,
What to leave behind, what to carry forward.
Our bags are lighter, now. Delicately present—we cannot remove them entirely.
When the weight gets too heavy, hand me a piece of clothing.
Do the same for me.
Sensitivity is not the same thing as cowardice. My heart may be made of glass, but my bones are welded of steel. I carry strength and frailty in the same form. Your burdens are mine too, please, let me care. And when I grow weak, I ask for your hand to hold me upright. This world is in desperate need of genuine concern, of those who are willing to let their suitcases be seen. We’re in good company.
Can I shoulder the weight with you? Will you confide in me? I promise you can. Will you let me share?
Comments (3)
this is wonderous. my heart is like crystal; it shatters, but can be glued back to make a beautiful thing that dances in the light.
This is that beautiful sadness like that woman from Disjointed if you've ever seen that.
I love the acceptance of the "messy suitcase" later on. While yes, some of it should be fixed or left behind, not everything needs to go, and it's best to carry some of that with you, even if it's "messy," "tattered," or "imperfect." And being able to share that with someone who won't shy away makes it all the better