Shine

Sister, I’m sorry for every time I saw your light and looked away.

I didn’t know how to see it and not compare your shine to my shadow.

I didn’t realize you were showing me how.

I’m sorry for every time you asked

for kindling

for a match

for a bellows

and my answer was my absence.

At the time, I would have called myself “busy”.

Looking back, I would call her “afraid”.

I’m sorry for adding to the pile of proof in the case the world has stacked against you.

For adding another mindless, heartless, spineless tick in the column labeled “too”

Too bright

Too big

Too loud

Too brazen

Too much

I hope you know that you could never be too much

in this world that is in so many ways lacking.

I hope you know you could never be too golden

in this world that is in so desperate need of gilding.

I hope you’ll give me another chance to burn for you.

Together, we could be a wildfire.