(POEM) Rest In Pieces: A Homage to 2020

This is my favourite poem I've ever written. I started it in 2020 and finished in 2021. I thought at the time I was summing up the closure of a period in my life, but in hindsight that transition marked the start of a new journey in the areas I write about. I hope you like it as much as I do.

Rest In Pieces: A Homage to 2020

I once watched a girl placed so delicately in between green and pink ornaments
Watching a light through the next room’s window.
She smiled to herself, knowing love was all around her.
I wonder how long until she notices.
Her brow furrows and she moves in closer
Gliding through the air like she always does,
Like a humpback whale in search of nothing but the very next moment.
Her feathery locks settle on the highlands of her shoulders
And eyes lock on the candle on her desk.
I watch her wonder how many times she’s done this with her inner flame.
Has she been seeing her fire mirrored for so long she’s forgotten it’s her own?

Spring rolls in and the young girl watches golden hour ricochet off her cheekbones.
She’s golden too
But still catches herself hoping new love rolls in with it.
Isn’t that what spring is for. . .
A new hope?
The days get longer and her hope gets shorter,
Slowly replaced with the promise of now,
Of the sound of the creek embracing rocks as it quickly stops by.
Wheels against the pavement reminds her she’s always been loved.
She doesn’t try to keep up,
She knows an old love won’t leave her.

She’s thinking of taking up swimming again.
She used to fear what lie at the bottom of the pool
But now she knows what I know - it’s deep kindness and cool compassion.
She hasn’t felt water all year,
But when she sees the sun fall into her lap each morning
It reminds her of being by the sea.
She moves to the edge
And shaky knees remind her she’s alive.

I stop by to say hello -
A gentle breeze through the hills,
A caress along her neck.
From there I can softly whisper in her ear.
I remind her “You’re safe now”.
She remembers she’s a growing thing,
The wisdom that she’ll always know love within.
She knows she’s worthy of her love
Because insects always stop to say hello.

She could never write without being in love.
She looks around and this time it’s only her.