Prompt: Map
Source: the.lemonaide (Instagram)
I may be loud, I may be funny,
I may be easy to be with,
I may be open, I may be too much,
but I’m not yours till you try:
Here, hand me that pen,
let me draw you a map —
don’t groan, don’t moan,
it’s but a simple journey.
You start at these orbs -
they’re brown to some,
gold to some,
an ominous black to some;
you’ll never see just one.
You start at these orbs
and if you’re friendly enough,
your mind ought to clear and you’ll see:
you may proceed.
Then comes this whirlpool -
thousand words per minute -
and withstand
till you know it’s safe. You won’t drown:
you may proceed.
Then travel a bit uphill,
you’ll see one of two -
they’re always listening, unbeknownst to you.
Then talk for a while
till they open or close
and if they stay wheatish,
not bright red in anger,
you may proceed.
Then travel far down
to a pair of hands brown -
as brown as yours may be.
And as day turns to night,
don’t shy away in fright,
let them aid if you wish,
but don’t suck their blush dry.
Far too many have sunk their teeth in.
Pour care and promise
into each crack, every crevice
till they no longer look too bruised.
You may proceed.
Then let yourself fall
down a pair not so tall
and walk a mile or two
till it gets through to you
that the journey wasn’t tedious, after all.
And if you’re lucky,
you may sketch the rest yourself
and see where your life takes you:
the journey never ends,
having many turns and bends:
to reach the beating heart
is very much an art,
but at least you must try it once
or twice.
