I was surprised when I realised I had already posted a quote from Maya Angelou, but never a poem. Of course, I had to right that wrong. Maya Angelou is a legendary American poet with an exceptional body of work. I chose this one because of its message: dare to love. We’re often scared to do it but it can change our lives. It certainly changed mine.
We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.
Maya Angelou
Alix in Wonderland 