Pain and Despair
stand face to face
cradling you
between them

until you slip 
from their arms
to the earth 
at their feet
and shed their 
embrace.

This is a blessing:
letting go and falling
into the Way, removing
oneself from them,
even as they try 
to hold you harder.

The Way is to 
drop away from
their hard faces.
Never let them
hold you in their gaze.
Never let them
stare you down. 
Instead, close your eyes —

land soft, feel 
the beating heart
of your Mother.