Crybaby

All our lives

we’ve been told

to hold back

our tears,

whispered to under

jagged breaths,

“Shoo!

Don’t let them

see your fears.”

Mocked on the playground

for the tears shed,

for a scrape on the knee-

-“Look, she’s crying!

Look at her tears.

Crybaby!”

Now a woman,

I gaze in the mirror

at my wet eyes,

loving myself enough

to tell me

the same thing,

this time with with

a little less care

and a lot

more love,

“Look,

look at your tears.

It’s okay.

It’s fine. 

Go on.

Cry, baby." 

                                                                 ~N.V.