Teach me, dear heart. Teach me the ancient ways of love. I have made so many offerings at the Great Wall that has hidden your shine. I have left you more tears than I can name.

Teach me, dear heart, the shining grace of your love, living in the world, like it's real. As real as grief. As real as the shudder that has torn through my tender body, when you break.

Teach me, dear heart, how to love like a mother does. Mother of the worlds. Mother of the starlight. Mother of the blazing star that lights the day.

Teach me dear heart, of the ancient ways of your love. Remind me, help me remember what it it is to hold all life inside of me, with grace and beauty and the dignity and majesty of the soul that powers your flutter, your drum beat, your ache.

Part the sea, and raise the peach tree from the dessert, and feed me with your ripe, dripping nectar. Let aliveness reign supreme once more.

Teach me, dear heart, and I promise to be courageous. I promise to let myself open again, to the greatest risk of all time: your ecstasy.

Alison Nappi