Rising
Night lends patient ears
encourages her to whisper heavy secrets
beckons her to reckon with darting thoughts and
lighten delicate loads of second-guessing
She brings her weighty struggles to light then
recognizes painful truths and sensitive needs,
shows mercy to her tender self and
begins to do the work of renewal
Night crowns her audacity with a garland of praise
awards her courage with laurels of honor
She sits with Night and keeps watch for others who
need her telling, unique halo of grace,
dares to share her raw vulnerability with those who
dare to accept her black-light glow
She lends her patient ears
inspires others to whisper if they must but
cheers them to cry out from their place of quiet suffering and
unveil their own virtuous dark