deny, deny everything <br />the past conversations and those that hurt you <br />pinching and twisting you <br />deny them, deny those that make you empty <br />and useless, those that make you feel <br />powerless to all these <br />that confront you <br />suddenly <br /> like you are unprepared even <br />for buttoning your shirt <br />deny, all those that try to harm you, do not <br />give them access <br />fill in all the abscesses of your longings <br />take time in combing your tangled hairs <br />and making your breasts soft and <br />supple <br />hang on to all the good things, the smiling things <br />those that are sweet and tender and <br />soft <br />memories that make you sing <br />and dance <br />stretch your arms to the openness of those that <br />are still to come <br />laugh, dance and say to yourself <br />you deserve this break in your life <br />you are you <br />and they just don't have the right to take that away from you <br />woman, lady, lover, mother, girl <br />child, baby <br />cell, <br />thought, love, space<br /><br />RIC S. BASTASA<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/on-your-birthday-4/
