To fly free
you must release yourself
from every hook
The meat hooks
that strung you up in helpless fear,
that said you were unworthy
or somehow flawed —
that what you’re good for
hung on what the judge decreed,
or what somebody else would pay
The fish hooks
where you took the bait
of acquisition
self improvement
hot pursuit of things to make you more OK
The cockleburs
all the little irritations
where you thought if things were only different
you could make your way
Each release will be a healing
Each closed wound will bring you strength
and let your spirit range a little further
coming back with joy
to urge you to continue
to claim your stature of infinity.
© Wendy Mulhern
March 1, 2012