Conversations with People Off Limits

What do you do when you want to talk to someone specifically, but the bridge between you burned? One night this last semester, I had an urge to talk to someone no longer in my life. It got me thinking and a little fascinated. It's amazing how a person that knew you so well and could talk to about anything became off limits. These people exist out there, but we feel like we can't talk to them because of this invisible wall of hurt, feelings, emotions, and memories. Why do we feel this way? Time and events cluttered our hearts and took away conversations and friends. I wondered what it would be like to call these people and just talked. Not about the past or anything that happened between us, but just to have a conversation. Why do we let it stop us? What would happen if we actually did pick up the phone and call?

Recently, I did get to have a conversation with one of those people that had felt off limits. And we didn't talk about the past between us, but rather caught up with each other and dealt with what was now. And afterward, we didn't have to feel like we were going back to what was. We don't have to talk to each other every day like we used to. Just a simple conversation. The things that get in between people fade over time and sometimes that person is the person we may need to talk to just to get our mind off something or to get their opinion, advice, humor.

It's amazing what we let clutter our hearts. This poem is what I wrote that night in the spring when I wondered what it would be like to talk to a person that cluttered my heart a lot.

Something Beautiful

I want to send you something beautiful

and I don’t know why.

You don’t need to say anything.

But wouldn’t it be something if we dropped differences

and I called you and we didn’t talk about the past

or religion or even our days and how they went?

We could talk about bugs and butterflies

and this new cool pen I got.

The one I will write poetry with

and little notes to people.

We could give our feelings a rest.

They need a night off.

Wouldn’t that be something?

Who said we have to be mad at each other in this moment?

What if we took a break from the world and our stories

and instead told each other a story or two?

Who says we couldn’t?

We’re different people now anyway.

Wouldn’t that be something?

To lay things down and laugh.

We could thank each other.

We could be happy too.

We could cry and let it all out

because we will need more space in our hearts

for sunsets and stars that take our breath away.

For butterflies to rush through after a kiss from someone we love.

And for other people and moments we don’t want to forget.

You already left your mark anyway.

We don’t need to hold on forever.

I could meet the you that is now.

And introduce you to myself.

We could say nice to meet you

and tell each other everything will be okay.

That would be something.

It could be beautiful.
It could be something.

Sparkle & Shine.

Rachel