You used to think you had a choice
once, perhaps you did
Now, no longer is that available to you.

Now, as your eyes droop from sadness
and your heart sags with the weight of knowledge
You must stand up,
You must begin to sing.

Your voice will quiver
your unsteadiness will show
and people may turn away
because your song must only
contain what you know to be true.

Caste aside your fears
throw them into the ocean where they
will sink
down, down, down.
Feeding mermaids who will bear
them witness and re-purpose them
into love nests for dolphins.

Pluck the weariness from your brow
toss it to the birds who cackle and shit
Give them something more to excrete,
leaving your intestines empty and
ready to be fed something nurturing.

Sing louder and with gusto.
Make mistakes and laugh because
you are learning to be wholly alive.
Flaunt the wealth that is your mind
by singing in obscure languages.

Sing into the wind, into the night
into the minds that are closed around you.
Create harmony from curses.
Weave melodies from sadness.

Lift your voice in purity and release
the anger that thought its residence
was in your belly. Release it with love
knowing its’ place has ceased to be with you.

Be lifted, be well, be strong, be you.