“A poem begins as a lump in the throat…”
–Robert Frost  

A lump in the throat, the result of a lifetime  
of sucking it in
holding back what wants to be said
staying silent in the face of opposition

A hunch in the shoulders, the result of a lifetime  
of staying small
shrinking from conflict
being invisible

Learning to fly, the result of  
being old enough to no longer care
about what others think
what others say
who others think you should be