Safe circle

You Surround Me

by Christine Colliar

You are my hiding-place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.
 
 
You are my escape room.
When I crawl into myself,
find a nook ready –
chair, hearth, book, tea –
you are there already.
I can wear myself,
    no pretence
    no brave face
    you see me
        know me.

I can sit
    on the floor if I want
and there you are
    to talk to
    or just sit with me,
door closed,
    until I’m ready
    to go back
    to the world
    emptied,
    filled.

And when I can cope
with more than silence,
you cover me with song
round and over and through me –
so I see,
    I feel,
        I taste
your music,
thrill
    and complete
        and mend.

Words that join – a daisy chain,
fragile and true,
    full
        and wide –
words that encompass,
    encircle
that hold together
    a fragility
    deep within,
and keep me
whole.