You’ll hardly recognize your demons
when they’re sitting, clothed,
at their master’s feet

They may be sheepish about
their former torment,
they may want you to understand
they really only meant to help

They wanted you to get to this point
of peace that’s larger
than any field in which you’ve been ashamed,
and any field in which you’ve been afraid —
a peace in which they have no role at all

They never would have let you settle
for a small corner of being OK —
they wanted this huge place for you,
where you can smile, and rest, and breathe.

©Wendy Mulhern
October 23, 2019