she steps out

she steps out
into the void
unsure
where her footsteps
will fall
as she steps
into the darkness
each step
illuminates the ground before her
a path paved in “me toos”
by women
who bravely stepped out before her
preparing the way
at great cost to themselves
creating the path so others could follow
women everywhere
young and old
bear witness
gathering the courage to tell their stories

-it wasn’t in vain

the willow

mighty arms outstretched
a resting place
a peaceful place
home to many
happily giving
hauntingly beautiful
and then the storm
callous and cold
it didn’t care how much she had provided
it didn’t care how well she had been loved
far more than she could bear
no one would have blamed her if she had given up
but it wasn’t in her nature