name your pain

waking early
in sadness like fog,
a web of faded
memory, forgotten

loss, nothing palpable,
no finger can
point to a mark,
the traces are lost.

sadness has no names
it is the place where
all meaning is lost,
the edges are blurred.

sometimes, not always,
walk into another
room. another space
will make you aware

where you are drifting
and you can swim
to shore, find a
beam of a light.

when you must fly,
fly. when you must drown,
drown, nothing is final
as long as you breathe.

other times, let
sadness be, see
where you find
your wound to touch

and name the pain,
name the pain,
call it  or cry but
give it a name

do not try to swallow
nor to bite nor to chew,
don't stay inside pain,
face it, be sharp

call it mother, father,
sister, brother, lover,
call it John or Joan,
call it your own name

or simply call it
your pain, give it
meaning with a
name and whisper

it into the wind,
the wind will take
it with your breath
and all will be clear

for a time, for a time,
this is the weather,
these are the moods
whirling within dance.

sadness is old pain
and longing, all mixes.
name your longing,
name your pain.

name yourself,
speak slowly,
listen to you, then
then let go, walk, smile.