interrelated notes

may the best man win
wicked whispers
that took forever to unhook
their otherworldly
certainly unholy
charm
monsters in the dark
may be as scared as i am

cowering little girl
deposited all her courage
saved up
bit by hardened bit
in the bank of the mystics

her credit was always good there
thank God,they are forgiving
praise God, he is forgiving
say a prayer & you'll see
so she did

....some experiences are so tender
that even the gentlest words
read in the softest light
would make it harsh & bumbling

& to pull a fragile belief
into the wincing public eye
is to condemn it before it can bloom

so better to nurture
the newborn to health
though tempting it is
to share your wealth
it's worse to mistake riches
for spiritual stealth

confusion is the next step
in correcting a slip
a stair you've un- or
purposefully missed

there are no shortcuts
tread carefully so
you won't have to retrace any steps
when you finally go

teachers appear & reappear & disappear
& turn up again
in the unlikeliest friend
until I really REALLY listen this time