Courage to Love

The courage to love,
to be open to the sure loss
that will inevitably arrive,
always much, much too soon.

The courage to love
in the minute to minute moments
when love is not there,
when answers are scarce
and questions yield more questions,
when confusion abounds
and it feels as if your heart is opened,
bleeding, for all to see.

The courage to recite truths,
and calm,
and hold on to the dignity
buried in the memories
of shame and heartache.

The courage to love yourself
in a lost and broken life.
This is truly courage.

© Christine Salkin Davis, 2018


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