The Midnight Voice

This is the voice stirred to awakening

in the middle of the night

when you don’t realize

you’ve opened the door.

It’s not a particularly loud voice.

It often begins as a meander among

the stored memories you hold.

It can be persistent at times

even when not following a path.

It all depends on which of the several

doors you’ve unintentionally opened.

You might think that

you are not caught up in these stories,

that you could simply turn them off

if you chose to do so.

But these are not clouds passing overhead.

These are part of who you are,

even who you choose to be.

There is an intent among them

to better understand the whys and wherefores

of these memories so they can be laid to rest.

So when they appear you can say,

I know you and appreciate why you’ve come.

But if you think I’ve more lessons

to be learned or blame to be laid,

now is not the time.

These are stories that I have named,

and my naming gives me ownership,

so I can say, “This is the story of X or Y or Z”

I don’t need to listen to you now.”

And gently close the door.