Joyful Ruins

Dear body

whatever we face

I love you

Whatever we feel

we are worthy

of all the things

life gives to us

I no longer want to

be stunned and frozen

at every sensation

I label

and maybe mislabel

as dangeours or scary

You are my language

My language of experience

You speak the words

I cannot speak

and as you do

through infection

heat

tingling

dizziness

tiredness

I wish to look at you

to look at us

for we are one

and say

I am no longer scared of you

and I choose not to despise you

I want all of you

not just some

not just good

because

Your aches are my aches

Your pain is my pain

That’s exactly what you tell me

that my aches are yours

When I refuse to say it

or accept it

YOU feel it

and whatever you feel is welcome

I choose to walk this path of acceptance

because you are mine

and I am yours

Together

we make up

all of who I am

So

I love you body

ALL of you

and I choose to

love you through

whatever you feel