I Want Freedom
I want freedom from fear
Fear of being unloved
Fear of being unlovable
Fear of being unlovable
Too disgusting, too crass
Discovered to be rotten inside
Discovered to be rotten inside
Like the avocado hides
Internal injury, sore to the touch
Internal injury sore to the touch
Of the ones I love the most
Mother, brother, child
Mother, brother, child
The most feared, the most wanted
The most needed, most powerful
The most needed, most powerful
Unaware the sharpness of their tongues
Blind to the cuts and wounds
Blind to the cuts and wounds
That bleed, and feed the fear
The fear that I am unworthy
The fear that I am unworthy,
Irredeemable, rotten to the core,
To be thrown out with the trash
To be thrown out with the trash.
The sentinel that is fear
Believing that it is protecting
Believing that it is protecting
When it is fear that infects, and poisons
The peace and safety of unconditional love
The peace and safety of unconditional love.
Naida Lavon
July 2018
Response to an exercise in the book: Poem Crazy
"Where do you need freedom in your life?
What part of you is longing to be expressed that you've ignored (or shut off) for fear of failure, fear of success, no time, or because you're being overly responsible? Ask that part of you to speak."