First Steps

Today the moon shone as the shadows grew

but these shadows where no longer my enemy

the tormentors of my soul

for today I have found the courage to accept

that I have the right to be

I have the power to be whole

to make a choice

to call the dragons down from the mountains

to make friends with them

to no longer be filled with fear or entrapped in the pit of sorrow

deep in the catacombs of doom

where hope is despised

and self is smothered with hate.

Today I rise

I walk from the chains

the chains that had me bound deep

in the spiraling tomb of darkness,

the spiraling tomb of shame

where the darkness of self hate and despair

had stolen my essence from me

My steps

though small,

slow, hesitant

are steps of courage.

l DO NOT have to be ruled by such soul destroying shame.

l am me I am strong.

Morning now moves to night

once more I feel the familiar fears,

I sense the oncoming despair

but tonight I have a new tool in my kit

the tool of courage, of self respect.

Slowly I venture into this world of shadows once more

but l do this with strength

there will still be times of darkness

and tears of doubt and pain

but now as l see the shadows

the fear will not be the same.