you are safe here. // a poem

i don't want hollow words

i want the hard questions

i don't want a platitude

i want purpose

i don't want your made-up face, your costume, your mask

i want you raw and real before me

i don't want your rhyming poetry

your words tied up in bows

your lines strung flimsily together

i want it unfiltered

unedited

unashamed

give me your doubts and your fears

give me everything that ever worried you for one second

give me every ounce of anger

every bit of bitterness

give it all to me

let me take it all from you

do not be afraid to be real here

to be you here

whatever that means

however that looks

because you

are safe

here