Respite

a judgement free space where anything and everything

goes,

comes

stays,

without question, inquiry, a slight glance of

suspicious eyes caught in clammy palms or breathy

comments swallowed whole. a space to show up fully,

unapologetically, without restraint or one’s guard

getting in the way – she can step aside and rest now

so the version of the self most messy and raw can come

out to scream as loudly as they need. take up space

baby, it is yours to destroy. release, ease, being.

Communion.

where one’s addictions, one’s past, one’s scorned and

wrinkled, marked and uniquely broken, beautiful face,

body, soul, can be nurtured and loved

for free.

where the coming together of folks from walks of all

sorts brings a profound experience of sitting on

concrete steps, smoking shared cigarettes.

a mouse runs by,

the walls have been tattooed with a question:

Where are you?

and where are we? does it matter?