Words Like Flowing Wine

In a perfect world
the pendulum of the grapevine
would stop swinging
and find a still point
in the center of fear and love.

The rumors that trickle into the chasm of truth
are few and far between where love has sidled up
to the heart and ignores the temptation to glamorize

fear and the ignorant path
that burrows below the surface of the skin
and turns the leaves into dry and curling words
that only harm us with the scorching dishonesty
that cannot be washed clean.

Stand tall and find your center of gravity
and the words will flow smoothly from the tongue
like water on the petals overflowing kindness.