Here

From the Sunday Scribbling's writing prompt:  You Are Here

"I BELIEVE I HAVE INSIDE OF ME
EVERYTHING THAT I NEED TO LIVE A BOUNTIFUL LIFE.
WITH ALL THE LOVE ALIVE IN ME
I'LL STAND AS TALL AS THE TALLEST TREE.
AND I'M
THANKFUL FOR EVERYDAY THAT I'M GIVEN,
BOTH THE EASY AND HARD ONES I'M LIVIN'.
BUT MOST OF ALL
I'M THANKFUL FOR
LOVING WHO I REALLY AM.
I'M BEAUTIFUL.
YES, I'M BEAUTIFUL,
AND I'M HERE..." 

From "The Color Purple" musical

I used to think

that my life was a map

that was all laid out

before I was born

the biography already written

the plot already thickened

and I had to find the key

the solution

the answer

to star in the story

that was already finished

but

then I grew up

I looked outside of myself

for the clues

sought answers in other people's

eyes

struggled for worth

struggled to be seen, acknowleged

recognized 

so I could get somewhere

be somebody

lovable

it was only when I walked away

from everything I knew

pushed the "stop" button

on a narrative

that kept demanding blood

it was only when I

was in the middle of the wilderness

with no map

no clue

experiencing death

my worst fear

it was then

that I realized

that I have survived

I have grown tougher

more tender

I have walked over mountains

staunched the bleeding

of seemingly fatal blows 

I have sung into the darkness

with a trembling voice

dared to love

in the face of death

it was then

that I realized 

that I am me

I am worthy

I am beautiful

I am loved

I am strong

and

I

am

HERE.