Sit in it, she whispered.

Let it engulf you like the endless,

Sand of the Sahara desert.

Breathe it in, she coerced.

Let it fill your lungs like a mother,

Breathing air into the mouth

Of her dying child.

Who told you the loneliness was bad?

Who told you to run away from it?

Who told you to silence it?

Listen to it.

Let the song it sings fill your soul.

Hear every lyric it whispers,

Every word it shouts

Let it speak to you.

In languages you are yet to understand.

Let it teach you a new tongue

The loneliness in your bones,

Makes it strong, gives it girth.

It molds your spine, keeps you upright.

Embrace it, hold it close

Like a lover,

For in so doing,

You’ll find healing.