Out of the Armor

So Heavy

So ... In credibly ... Heavy ....

So Credibly ... Encompassing

And Loud ...

Heavy and Loud

Housing Me and My Heart

Hiding my Eyes with It's Face Shield

Imagine how Strong I must Truly be....

To have Worn it like This

For All this Time...

(Yeah, right...)

So Safe

So ... Defended

So Hidden,

Impenetrable

So Heavy

Hard to really Get AnyWhere very Far.

But I did.

And Piece by Piece

and 'Step by Step'

I have made it so much Further than

I ever Dreamed of going.

Piece by Piece

This Armor is Coming Off

And I am Scared

Scared of What this May Mean.

Afraid to Admit That I have always been Scared.

When I acted my Bravest,

Just like at the Table

I was my Most Unsure.

At times, when I felt more secure

When I was loved... for whatever or whoever I was Representing

Myself to be,

I allowed an Eye or Two

Shine through that Iron Plate.

And that was Enough

I thought That I had Made it Through the Fire.

Again, I thought that that Gesture

(albeit a sincere One),

Was I all I had to Do

In order to Love Another

and Love Myself.

Yes, there were reasons

That I built that Armor in the first place.

And reasons that I kept it on and built it stronger, still

In times of Trials.

And Now, I know Better ....

Somehow I always knew that I hid.

Hid, more than the average Warrior.

But I thought that if The Armor

Came Off,

It would be Because

It was All Crashing Down around my Ankles.

But to my Favorable Surprise;

I am Actually

Lifting It Off of Myself!

And, Now ...

I have good reason to Exert

This Demanding Energy ...

A Love True in my Heart

Pound by Pound

Inch by Inch

It Raises off of Me.

And Pieces Fall off

Making it Lighter,

And My Body Strengthens with Each Hoist.

I see the Flanks that have Fallen

Still Hold their Duty

Like a Life of Responsibility

Lies within their Metal ...

As They Fall

And Bounce,

And Roll ....

I Look back and See

They Are Forming a Hut

A Cave of Sorts

(Built Like a House of Cards)

I know I have a Long Way to Go

Before I am Fully

Out of the Armor

But I am feeling Close to a Freedom.

Again,

Closer than I ever Dreamed I'd Be.

I Hope at some point to destroy these left over

Reactions of Protection

And Not Run

To Jump Safe into That

Cave of Plates

Cave of Fears

I Look Forward

And Walk Toward

My Life Lived,

Out of the Armor.

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