you make me want to crawl
out of the cave of myself
enticing me to
slip through the cracks
and peer around rough corners
you lure me from
my finally-comfortable solitude
and make me curious
about the world outside

(the world i turned from
circled my wagons
and trembling, hid from)

not with wheedling words
or hollow promises
or threats or force
but with quiet patience
and stillness
like the hush of twilight

you make me
crawl out of my cave
for you
with you
so long as you
hold my hand and
draw me gently along

***

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