In tenderness I came home to myself
A great resting happened
When I held myself softly
With open hands
The fighter relaxed
And the war ended

My friend, come close and I will whisper
Let them keep all their fighting
We will rest here in this sweetness

We build such walls around ourselves
These ill fitting masks that hide our sorrow
Let us put them down forever
And meet, naked and unashamed,
Tender and open as we once were
No more blame or guilt or shame
Just this tender innocence

But please, don’t let all my talk of tenderness
Fool you into imagining I am weak
For innocence is the power of the warrior
Cynicism is the easy path well trodden
But few traverse the path of innocence

Let our hearts become pure again
So we may feel the gentle rain
As it softens the garden.