I Dare Say

The rewards of speaking up.

The goodness lives inside of me;
oh it is not a constant residing,
yet it is comfortable at least,
as I am too, for speaking
up at last, for opening my
mouth more, expressing
that which occupies
my mind.

That challenge dared me, finally,
over salad and penne pasta,
among a spate of arrogance
which I have little time for.
I reached deep, took hold
of fear, that cold, rigid
inhibiter who warned
I would trip over my
words, should
I dare speak.

There is no joy in, Yes-man-status,
nodding like some bobble head,
as frustration ties knots inside,
and self-indictment scolds
at night.

And if I fall, so I fall…and I
can say, okay, I fell, yet
then I laugh, get on my
feet, as confident is he
who tries, and warm
beats the heart of one
whose satisfaction soars.

A life of shy
demands a change,
and views expressed
infuse the spirit,
as long as arrogance
is kept in check.

Life challenged me to
say my piece, and so
I did; then I felt better
about myself.


40 Lines
Writer’s Cramp
3-29-20