Jen Toal
Mermaid. Laser Maven. Wife. Mom. Artist. Educator. Shape Shifter. Invisible Disability Warrior.

advice i am giving myself

upon meeting new soul mates

 

stand solidly if you are able

hold your form fluid 

brace for beauty

 

and the way it always 

knocks you over

 

notice press of globe

up through soles

 

marvel at the moments experience

and universal 

shake hands

 

trade knees

 

compare the roads you have run

the trees you jumped out of

the places your jeans have worn through

 

skip right past groins and sex

this isn't that poem

 

and connection

can be better

for being less obvious

 

instead

press your belly buttons together

a meeting of absences

 

shared space to frame things

 

frame things

redo this if it

feels more truthful

 

consider the strengths of your mat

let the space placed around

your best work

have its own things to say

 

say things

out loud

 

experience is meant to be shared

 

and no one needs your 

perspective

more than a soul mate

 

trade scars stories

(tattoos totally count)

 

tell each other tales of the ways

the world hasn't ended

even if it left a mark

 

breathe

 

feel belly press belly

laugh

 

you've been sucking down discord

all day

 

like too little sleep

too much wireless

and a fundamental disconnect

from how our species evolved

to thrive

 

agree to thrive anyway

 

slice out space for each other

in the places you

forget to feel shame

 

allow yourself

and each other

forgiveness

 

for everything you’ve ever believed was wrong with you.

 

there’s never been anything wrong with you.

except not knowing there was nothing wrong with you.

 

forgive yourself

for lying to yourself

in order to stay small

 

it’s okay to not be everything

 

we are all of us everything together

and we forget we don’t have to

do it alone

 

give up the notion

you may somehow

be on the same page

 

you’ve only just collided

from across the cosmos

 

the particular constellation

of harmonic convergences

your empty spaces

express

as you pass through each other

 

are not the same

as being the same

 

we are stronger for our differences

 

befuddling though they be

 

decide this is the game

and that you are always winning.

 

because you are.