Growing Down
\nBy
\nJoseph Anthony Petro<\/p>\n
\nWeep tender heart, weep.
\nEvery tear you cry lifts the crushing weight
\nFrom your chest and drops away
\nChains from your hands and feet
\nAnd heart.
\nYou
\nDid
\nNothing
\nWrong.
\nWeep, tender heart, weep.
\nHold my hand and dive into the folds
\nOf the dark waters of your pain.
\nYou will not drown in sorrow;
\nYou will not drown at all.
\nYou will blossom in the depths, like
\nA manta ray, like a rose of white light, like
\nA lotus of moonlight with roots of life-giving blood.
\nWeep, tender heart, weep.
\nLet your tears become one with the darkness,
\nLet your tears shed the layers of hatred
\nFor your body, for your existence,
\nFor the false reasons you came to believe you were born.
\nRelease them. Release them and weep,
\nWeep, tender heart, weep. Know there are many
\nWeeping with you; there are many blossoming
\nWith you; there are many loving you
\nUntil you can love yourself; so weep
\nFierce heart, weep.
\nAnd when you surface from the shadows,
\nBursting forth with hope, and the earth-given-
\nHeaven-blessed-moon-drenched desire
\nFor unity, wholeness, and the arms
\nOf your Beloved, your tears will be tears
\nOf joy. For you will be free,
\nAnd you will be alive, and you will be a child
\nWith the heart of a man.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
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