Today, I have decided,
I will lift my arms
and give thanks.

I woke up with words
on my tongue
written across the sky
of my imagination
beckoning me
to live in the space
of giving and receiving love,
so I might share with you how
vibrant my world appears this morning.

How the dawn feels as if the church
within my soul has stood
to sing an offering
shaped by the notes
I learned as a child
In a church whose congregation
looked different from me
but together
the children
the adults
let our lights shine
brighter than a fresh, new lamp
scanning an old, worn path.

Today, as I stretch
my arms
my toes
my only need
is to bear down
evenly
on the balls of my feet
so I may step with the intention
of being human,
a statistic,
who has earned her freedom
to sing
to clap
to begin