If I did not tear it all down, empty my heart, rebirth myself.

If I kept my back straight, my eyes shut, my tongue silent.

If I tiptoed through the garden, the sand,  the ocean of my dreaming.

If I swept the corners clean.

If I stopped in my tracks.

If I forgot to forgive, or forgave to forget.

If I shut the windows from the rain.

If I lied and lied again.

If I did not tear it all down, empty my heart, rebirth myself,

I would never have heard my own story calling,

“Where do you want to go next?”

-Maya Stein