Cathedral

Before you label me, pause-

hold the weight of my words,

the ones that came out wrong,

the ones that burned too hot or cooled too quick.

Judge me gently, by the fire I meant to light,

not by the ashes left behind.

Judge me in the light- when I knelt, quiet,

in the chapel of my own thoughts.

The heart can be a clumsy thing,

tripping over its own rhythm.

I am the woman who stood on the edge for you.

I am not the fall.

Listen instead for the melody I tried to hum,

even if it trembled, even if it cracked.

If you must judge,

let it be by the way I keep walking,

head up, heart full,

no matter how many times I fall.

Judge me by how I trusted you.

Judge me by the hands that reach out,

even if they tremble, even if they miss.

Judge my intention.

I wanted to build a cathedral

out of every sorry, every wish.