IT TAKES ALL OF ME #poetry by jay

it takes all of me
to meet you here
in the middle
or at least 
an agreed upon
center
it takes all of me
to leave my cabin
and ignore
the pause i cultivated 
this past year, or more
to settle the moments
of shared space
left in the past
yet lingers oft
and over and around
like a stench
into our future

it takes all of me 
to engage a care
when all my energy
demands i stay
right here—

alone in my thoughts
alone in my peace
alone in my sentient

being, and happy 
to agree
to never leave

it takes all of me
to reckon a care.

©Jay Mora-Shihadeh

Photo by Nathan Dumlao on Unsplash

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