Draft in the author’s style. This poem was written for Poet of Uplift to sit beside the author’s own readings, and is waiting for the author’s review. The commentary is a working draft too.
I looked into the water, and I saw a weary face,
With shadows under both its eyes and a hurried, worried pace.
It's strange how we can speak to friends with gentle, loving words,
But we scold ourselves like thunder, and we cage our inner birds.
So I smiled and I told the stranger, you've come a long way, dear,
You've weathered many storms, and you are braver than you fear.
You are not made of perfect, and you were never meant to be,
You are made of scars and stardust, and of possibility.
I gave myself a blessing, and I gave myself some rest,
And I felt my shoulders lower like a bird that's found its nest.
So speak to yourself gently, as you'd speak to a friend in need,
For the kindness that you give yourself is the very best of seed.
Poet of Uplift · Hear it on the channel ↗
Commentary
This poem turns the mirror of the water into a friend. The speaker finds the kind voice that they normally save for others and uses it on themselves.
The speaker looks “into the water” and sees “a weary face, with shadows under both its eyes.” It is strange how “we can speak to friends with gentle, loving words, but we scold ourselves like thunder.” So the speaker tells the stranger, “you’ve come a long way, dear,” and “you are braver than you fear.”
“You are made of scars and stardust, and of possibility.” The speaker gives “a blessing” and “some rest,” and “my shoulders lower like a bird that’s found its nest.” The poem ends by advising, “speak to yourself gently, as you’d speak to a friend in need.”