This Poet's Thank You

They came from all corners A rainbow collection of friends To tutor my heart In the lessons of healing Of hoping Of believing Of hanging on and getting through the frost of winter They did not turn away They turned me inward and gave me strength Their gentle compassionate hands wiped the tears from my eyes and pointed to days with prettier skies Like the rooms full of troubles souls Speaking their names aloud and telling their truths I stood before you broken and begging And you came to rescue me from my sorrow Making me mindful that all poets suffer While reminding me of the coming dawn How do I repay those kindnesses? How can I speak of your worth? It was you, my friends, my community of careful and caring cheerleaders That lifted me That carried me That placed me back in a place of purpose What greater a gift? Throughout my pain you were all present And gave me the presents of your wisdom Your experiences, a common thread for the woven tapestry of concern It kept me warm and allowed for rest Winter washes away now And my love has returned with apologetic eyes I welcome him home, as it is best to do We break bread instead of promises And I tell him of the many who pulled me to shore I could not have made it from the currents Had you not thrown me the lifeline Dear and wonderful poets... who refused to let me drown in the sorrowful sea of heartbreak It is wonderful to be back in the sunlight... It was you, my friends, Kept me strongly swimming PEACE UPON YOU