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"nothing is so strong as gentleness, nothing so gentle as real strength."

- St. Francis de Sales

i left behind boxes
of rancid thoughts in a room
too green to forget.
i left boxes full
of yellowed books, acid paper,
and bleeding pens ---
i tried so hard to forget.
box away my fallacies
and forget i was ever 16 ---
forget i was ever scared
and reckless ---
forget i was ever young
and voiceless.
i left behind so many boxes,
but i took my gentleness ---
i took my gentleness and
wrapped it in newspaper
wrapped it in my arms ---
held it to my breasts, 
so we could never
be apart.