Brave Heart

it’s easy to tough talk
and behave as though 
there’s armor on your chest
and a wall between you
and all that wants to
bring you to your knees
at the point of a sword.

it takes no strength to 
speak from highest ground
when your feet are planted
firmly under your standing
and your arms are crossed
with righteous I know how it’s done.

and yet it is another thing
altogether, 
is it not
to find your heart
on shaky ground
with your knees quaking 
as they struggle to stand 
with the earth beneath you
slipping away.

you find yourself 
falling, spinning, 
nowhere near to having
the balance you’d talked about
so haughty from your loft. 

it takes a hidden strength
from within
that you don’t know exists
until the very moment 
you gather it together inside you
and stretch those fragile new found 
wings in both directions.

you spread them wide
fluttering and beating, 
not sure if you’ll survive and soar
or crash loudly in the canyon. 

when you can 
cover the earth with
your shadow,
swallowing your fear as you fly, 
that’s when you discover
a strengthened heart
beating inside you,
swelling to the size 
of the challenge. 

only then can you truly 
claim to own
the necessary bravery
that gives you rights to speak, 
boasting well-earned armor 
on your chest
and a solid wall between you
and all that can no longer
bring you to your knees
at the point of any sword
even when you feel the earth
slip away
beneath you.

~ cj 2012.08.15