Worth It

For anyone needing to move out of a period of stagnation.

I felt myself swimming

Away from the coast

Having waited my life

For a ship to come in

I’d spent far too long

In the comfort of ports

Bemoaning poor weather

Not noticing sun

I was chewing on fat

It was weighing me down

Buttered me up

But glossed over my thirst

I had to let go

Of old harbours that hemmed

And dreams that consisted

Of treasure to find

I knew I must swim

For one reason only

To revel in pleasure

It brought to my limbs

I was lithe as an eel

As I noodled new space

Weaving my shape

As a ribbon of joy

But then came the day

Ocean gnawed at my scars

I felt raw, as wounds opened

I thought to be healed

I nearly turned back

But I asked a wise wave

Why I smarted so much

Why I noticed it now…..

She rasped, with the roll

Of the women before me

Who’d seen the same colours

And hit the same rocks

“What you feel, is the sting

Of not toeing the line.

Of cutting your skin

On sharp stones that you find

And

Sometimes, it will hurt

But….sometimes…. how you’ll glide!

When you swap a safe haven

To swim against tide.”

And she gave me a sack,

It was heavy yet bright

It was hard, but dissolved,

It reflected the light

As I savoured each pearl

That at first, looked like grit

She said

“This is your salt….

and YOU ARE WORTH IT”