step?
a tentative, shaky foot moves forward,
hovers,
hesitates.
pulls back, afraid.
silently the mind
to whom the foot belongs
screams in fear "nononono icantdothis!"
soothing words and a hand extended, reassuring.
"it's allright, little one. this is good and true and right and you can do it. this is your birthright."
pause.
think.
the foot moves again,
still shakey but slightly surer.
"come on, dear. you need this. I'll walk beside you, show you the way."
the foot doesn't lift--but it shuffles.
it moves a bit at least.
and nothing bites it, nothing hurts it.
is it safe after all?
shuffle
shuffle
lift. plant. lift.
still tentative, still cautious, but so so close.
it's a beginning
and everything must start somewhere.

as i move forward, guided by my friend...
i wonder at the fact
i may yet learn
to live
to be free
after all. .