Poem: Bathed Alone
Photo by artist Heather Heininge
one dark early night
I chose to bathe alone
in warm saltwater, so I
could relieve the pressure
and heal external pains
which had progressively
accumulated themselves like
the polluted dirt that always
permeates our skin and clothes
when we expose ourselves
to the world that resides
beyond our safe shelters.
between the dampness
and the silence, I was left
with nothing but wild introspect
as if I were being propelled,
quite naturally, to unleash
the tensions that had limited
my self expression prior,
reminding me of the material
necessity to be still enough
to find comfort in the silent
presence of my own being:
a virtue we must all cultivate.
so eventually, caught up in
such a turbulent yet cosy
wavelength, I realized how
there is no greater richness
than the ability to manifest
self-induced bliss and growth
at any futile moment. and now,
I write so as not to contain
my voice, which is susceptible
to feeling trapped, so I choose
to exert my words unto you
in the hopes you’ll see, so clearly,
the beauty in expressing from our greatest depths.
It is safe to say that lockdowns leave much room for extensive self-encounters. Having embraced the opportunities to look within in greater depth, I’ve discovered how important it is to accept our need to heal. This looks different for everyone, but take this as a reminder to take in the waves of newness and growth that this all brings. Each moment is a chance to create something beautiful and constructive for yourself.
