No One Can Make You Feel Inferior Without Your Consent”- Eleanor Roosevelt

I fit into comfortable silences with myself these days.

I do not always seek to fill the air with words and songs.

Sometimes I think that this means I am comfortable with myself.

Other times I think there is nothing more to say,

Are they the same?

I trip over my self regard every now and then.

I do not know where to find respect

when there are days where I misplace it.

I left it on the counter there.

I left it in her mouth and let her take me down with her words,

I left it in his hands and let him walk away with it between squeezed fingers,

crushing the love I have for myself.

I suppose “misplace” is not the right word.

I give people access to my self worth and let them grind it to dust.

Then I have the audacity to blame them for making me feel that I am no good.

When I gave them the key.

Some days I look into my heart and I see the treasure that I am.

Then days like today, I stare into the well of my soul and become lost in who I am.

Then voice from somewhere I cannot name comes to me,

Anna, get up child. It is time to remember,

You dug the well yourself. You buried the treasure. You know what it holds.

Be amazed. You are here.