Beyond the Clouds

beyond the clouds
by tammie renea

Leave me to my tears,
for I know what lies beyond the clouds.
Come forth to ease my pain,
but do not shelter me,
for only I can lift this heavy sorrow from my heart.

Delicate though I may appear,
do not presume utter fragility.
Seek not to hush me when I weep.
Within every tear is a secret to my life's work,
to lessons untold,
and those yet to unfold.

In my time of need, do not offer your faith
but lead me back to my own.
Do not attempt to rescue me.
Be content to surround me with your warm spirit.

Do not be afraid to let me own my grief.
I can only learn to manage what I experience,
so embrace me as I embrace this intense sadness.

When my heart aches and my mind turns numb,
do not attempt to control my confusion
or to erase my despair.
I must feel what is tolerable in this moment alone.
To insist on more or less would be most unkind.

When you're concerned by the depth of my sorrow,
simply offer your love.
Do not lift me from the currents
of these unsettled seas.

If I am to understand what makes life so insatiably delicious,
I must learn to swim with its ebb and flow.