The transition into tenderness

required delicate footing.

I learned to look a little

more deeply into my surroundings.

Nothing was at it seemed,

but that meant

something beautiful must be

hidden beneath what appeared.

I learned to look a little more deeply

into what was there,

intuitively drawn to remain

in each moment —

no matter what —

determined to find just one

small sign of beauty

when at first glance,

all was dark —

holding each faint whisper of hope —

becoming more determined with each step

to help it to grow.