inside out

like a flower trembling
waiting on the verge of bloom
I sit here watching your eyes
as they seek, find and accept
the incompleteness of my soul

the flawed and shadowed wants
yearnings and desires
waiting to be unleashed
opening, unfolding
basking in the dawn
of a new self awareness

the whispers remain
deep inside
scared, shreds of doubt

slowly with an artists touch
you erase the very last traces of fear
and instead replace them
with empowering confidence
in the beauty you've seen

revealed through the lens
as you capture me

vulnerable, safe

********************************

inside the wounds
are fresh as the day they were created
lying in wait
hidden from plain sight...

acceptance is rare and hard to find
out of need for survival
the mask was slowly built
layer by layer
until the outside turned itself
shiny and new
fresh, beauty...

but under it all
hideous and bruised
the remnants of what was left behind
forgotten, cast aside
like a broken doll
unloved, unwanted
crying for deliverance
into the arms of uplifting adoration
desire, want...

lonely and weak
tired of fighting
close up the scars once more
hide in the darkest corners
to wait out another
long, cold night...