what is a family?
i am who i am because of those who came before me
The blood that relates us is hot. Too hot. Squirm and dance though I might, I cannot escape its boiling under my skin. It’s a call to action, a yearning to belong, an alpha command, a resignation.
I am who I am because of those who came before me. Am I then indebted?
What is a family?
A strand of organic material buried deep within a cell?
A shared home?
A denomination?
A denominator?
The ties that bind us are tight. Too tight. Tug and pull though I might, I cannot loosen their reins on my being. They are reminders, restrictions, boundaries, safety…
I am who I am because of those who came before me. Who are they?
What is a family?
A status symbol?
A paper trail?
A promise?
A regret?
The hands that hold me are worn. Too worn. Soften my grip though I might, I cannot restore their youth. They are mementos and sacrifices, the passing of time.
I am who I am because of those who came before me. How do I grieve them?
What is a family?
A tree for which I am but a small branch?
A means to an end?
A disguise?
A purpose?
The eyes that see me are blind. Too blind. Though I describe the world in careful detail, I cannot grant them sight. They are relics of the past, doomed to see only that which they can accept.
I am who I am because of those who came before me. And, in spite of them?
What is a family?
Cloaked conformity?
An unalterable fate?
A responsibility?
A burden?
The hearts that find me are pure. Perfectly pure. I show up as I am, and they do too. I can give them my love. Their touch is cooling. Their ties are flexible. Their hands are capable. Their eyes are clear.
I am who I am because of the love I inspire. The love I am.
What, then, is a family?
Recognition & respect?
Mutual sacrifice?
Commonality?
A family is unconditional love.
To all who have an unconditional love in their life, cherish it always.
anyway, here it is…
-June
I invite you to stay and be seen here.
for words with nowhere else to go
unspoken thoughts, unfinished feelings, & everything in between
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tomorrow, i'll be an apology
Sometimes, I am an ocean. A churning sea. A depthless pit. A wild, fathomless ecosystem. Teeming with the cold, eternal circle of life, but warm enough at my edges, that you might dare to dip a toe and try me, tempt me.
and here you are living despite it all...
I got my first tattoo the day I turned 18. It’s a single-line poem by Rupi Kaur, “and here you are living despite it all…”
art by the incomparable talent on Pinterest
beautifully done. felt this.
this was so beautiful. it’s up there with my favourites. what is family if not something you find yourself questioning your entire life