A person swimming through ripples in royal blue water.
Wherever you are, be there. Take up space. Occupy the full dimension.
Unfold the map of your body. Celebrate its topographical wonder,
its unpredictable weather. Make a pool of your movements, then swim
through the ripples, parting the room with your footsteps.
Make no apology for the squeak of your soles, how your jacket swishes
at your thighs, that the dust is making you sneeze.
Consider it all a kind of orchestra, you tuning the keys, you lifting
the horn of your whole self to the air. Let the notes of you blast out,
at a register and speed that won’t leave you hungry or empty.
Let anyone hear, as they walk by with their shoulders up, pretending
not to listen. Wherever you are, remember why you are here: to sing.
– Maya Stein