to flow and know my own voice

Catherine Yanan Cheng Stahl

to flow and know my own voice

i haven’t yet
found the
way up that
steep mountain—
the one keeping me from
opening up my mouth
to convey my love and care
for each of you.

i haven’t yet
learned
to soft river
my way around
that mountain—
the one fixing my
words
unable to s p i l l …

words limit what my love for you is.

i send you flowers through the page
for your patience
for your courage
for the space you keep extending towards me
so that i may
come to flow
come to know
my own voice
and share it

more f r e e l y …