What If?

What if,
instead of living in its shadow,
we shone
just the gentlest light
into the secret corners
of our grief?

What if,
instead of pushing it away,
we held the trembling animal of shame
in our palm
until it settled into sleep?

What if,
instead of remaining silent,
we gathered words,
like kindling,
to warm our frozen fears.

What if
we found strength
in our vulnerability,
healing
in our own light,
our own hands,
our own words?

By Maria Brady-Smith
Photo by Mike Smith