you are curling up, kindly

in the leaden shadows

(and you feel just as

weighed down, just

as heavy)

i am not trying to preach;

i proffer a hand (my palms

are dry and cool, like

clay).

you are trying not to cringe

but i can feel you reaching,

reaching for

me. today

i can

lift you out of the

dark. i will.

(do not misunderstand:

i am not looking down

at you; i am meeting you half

way there.)

you might be superman-

but you're not invincible.

& sometimes, vulnerable

is okay.