Wily, this word that rolls —

Should.

Dangles and stretches, the
purple wisteria of words,
an alluring, empty promise,
a choking vine.

Should.

Winds its’ way through
daily bread,
around your core,
into consciousness.

Should.

Spoken from within,
a haunted internal arising —
( I should) do better, be stronger,
go farther, move faster.

Should.

Spoken from others,
a shot toward your heart
your lack becomes their headline,
the ways you fall short their top story.

Should.

Tossed from your throat,
a cheap shot toward someone else —
about their one wild and precious life*,
their spunk and soul decisions.

Today —
You and I awaken to this crafty wolf in sheep’s clothing.
We gain perspective of how ‘should’ holds us (and others) down.

Today —
We reach our hands up to release ‘should’ to our Creator who transforms.
We push our feet into the ground and stand firm in who we are.

Today —
You be you. Let the inner voice of love reign.
Feel the energy of love surround.

“One wild and precious life” refers to a line in Mary Oliver’s poem, The Summer Day

This poem was inspired by a personal reflection paper I wrote several years ago. In response to a brief statement about an inner belief I carried (at the time), “I should be doing XYZ”,  the instructor, Jane Vennard, commented on my paper, “should” indicates danger. I loved this concise comment. It’s stayed with me and simmered over the last few years. When I catch myself saying it to myself, someone else or hear it from another, I practice “pause and release”. May this be a blessing to your practice of love.