Chosen and Beloved

                                                   

 In the darkness

I stand but I am not afraid

Because there under the door

Is a glint of light

The shadows which once were

Are no longer there

As the door flies open

And the lightness shines in

 

The whispering words

Are not that of hate

They are cries of love

Being spoken like  a prayer

 

The suffering blackness

Is no longer there

Instead, I stand

In a sea of calm

 

I take a step back

And I begin to fall

But instead of hitting the ground

I fall into the arms of love

 

My eyes are open

And I truly see

The person I am

Chosen and Beloved

 

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

December 2022

Darkness

In the darkness

Of the landing

I stand afraid

Unsure of what I see

 

There are only shadows

Creeping all around

Words being said

Like whispers in a tree

 

The blackness is suffocating

The lines are blurred

I take a step back

And fall to the ground

 

I awake startled

No idea of who I am

How did I end up here

In this land of make-believe?

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

December 2022

Loved

I need to tell you

I love you

But I can’t

As I don’t know if it is true

 

I want to tell you

You are loved

But again I can’t

As I don’t know if it is true

 

I want you to know

That you are loveable

I know that is true

But you can’t accept it yet

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

November 2022

You Shine

In the darkness, you shine

The light radiates off you

Lighting up your whole face

Making you glow

 

Your presence is overpowering

It's hard to be around you

As your infectious smile

Tries to win me over

 

I don’t want to be overpowered

I want to empower

But you are standing in front

Creating a barrier for me

 

Why am I so resistant?

To be where you are

Am I scared of what may be

Of what I may become?

 

But there is no need to fear

Because you mean no harm

You reach out your arms to me

And bring me in close

 

Your arms envelop me

And your warmth is effective

In making me feel safe

And secure in your presence

 

But I need to let go

To hold you at arm's length

But you know that is okay

As it is what you want

 

You want me to be able

To stand on my own two feet

So I will be able to say

I am who I am meant to be

Jo Anne Kennedy

November 2022

Stand Tall

                                                               

When you look at me

What do you see?

Do you see a rose

Standing tall and straight?

 

Or do you see a sponge?

All wet and limp

As its being squeezed

One too many times?

 

When you look at me

Do you see beauty

Or do you see ugliness

All crumpled up and used?

 

Do you see someone

Who is strong and stable

Or someone who is unable

To stand on their own

 

Because when I see you

I crack into pieces

And try to withdraw

So you cannot hurt me again

 

But I say no more to that

I want to be strong

To have the keys to my castle

And keep my heart safe

 

Boundaries need to be raised

Protection put into place

So you cannot come in

And try to dominate

 

I want to stand tall

and start to take control

to relish in my identity

and believe my roots are planted deep

 

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

November 2022

 

Lanyard of False Identities

                                                                

There you are, I see you

Walking down the street

Strutting towards me

As if you were the king

 

You are as always

Wearing your lanyard

The one with the false identities

You show the world

 

You don’t know you do it

But it is obvious to us

That while you say one thing

You really mean the opposite

 

You portray yourself as a warrior

When you are actually a victim

And it is all because

You want to be better than you are

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

November 2022

We Walk

                                                      

 We walk undefended

Embrace misunderstanding 

We walk secretly

And silently in contentment

 

We walk openly

Greeting others who walk with us

 

We walk humbly

Serving others in need

 

We walk with perseverance

Pushing through the walls and barriers

 

We walk with assurance

Knowing that we are not alone

 

We walk in the knowledge

Of the enormous price paid for us

 

We walk in captivation

Of the beauty around us

 

We walk out of time

In the world, we live in

 

We walk in time

With the one, we belong to

 

We walk along ancient paths

Forging new ones on the way

 

We walk with purpose

Keeping our eyes on the road ahead

 

We walk with hope

Knowing that it will all be worth it

 

Jo Anne Kennedy

November 2022