Do not fight your fear.
She is not your enemy
She is the child who was left
The one who was not stood up for
The one who has felt these things before
She is wise beyond her years
because she has seen and understood
how these things go, how these things hurt
She does not know the bonds of friendship,
the bedrock truth of belonging,
or the joy that lies beyond all these things
So, holding her close, raise your eyes
to the source, the centre of her gravity.
Feel her small body tense, her hackles rise.
Then, gently armed with her fierce tears,
walk towards the darkness, the unknown.
Show her the faint light she has not yet seen.
And in its glow, show her the ranks
of the hundreds, thousands walking
afraid as you are, unsteady but unstoppable
No, no, no… do not fight her.
Carry her tenderly, eyes raised,
and let her watch as the dragons flee.
Don Lowe 