Innocent animal

A long time ago

You were so kind

You gave me an undeniable sign

That you knew I was innocent

I truly wish I knew then too

Because sadly now I see far too many years have passed

With me beating myself up

Now it seems there are amends to make

Mostly to myself

There were deep wounds and defcits too

That I could not find the way to

Because justification and ignorance

Covered them over

So that in the end, my vision was blurred

But in truth

The feelings pouring out of my deeper self

Never lied

Always gave me proof

Of what occurred

And how it hurt

Why do we shame people

For being human, real and vulnerable?

Is it that we too long ago denied

The rambunctious lively animal inside

That contained the most vibrant and in tune

Part of us?

Now I will no longer continue

To side

With that lie

For I see the many ways

We try to shut the animal down

And yet it will never consent to fully die

Because it is at root

What contains the primal best of us

Even if a wild and tender part

So deeply in need

Of our spiritual wisdom

Human intelligence

And kindness