My heart was in my throat, lodged like the

Bullet once shot into the side of my head

Between skull and brain, my neck's walls created

A resistance, unwilling to allow my heart to leave my

Body, travel elsewhere, working to force it

Swallowed and whole to where it had once belonged

But then you spoke sweet assurance of remaining

Relief released belief, causing my heart to swell

Before I questioned if that was a promise, an oath,

Swear it, my mouth wants to open, my

Lungs are threatening to sing, before you

Promised I already knew you would and

Let me sing, let me sing, Maya, now I too know

Why the caged bird sings, the walls my

Neck built could not stand like the Great

Wall of Berlin could not stand, were forced to

Eject my heart into a future of trusting someone

That was not I, I sang my heart into your

Hand, now my heart is free to speak secrets

To nestle in the nest of your palm, knowing

Your fingers will not crush its truths and your

Veins will strengthen its vitals and you, you

Will share the agony of yesterday and the

Promise of tomorrows, now that's okay

With me