Pearls Lost

Here's to the youngest of poets

the dreamers

shyly sharing

their inner thoughts for the

very first time.

Here's to the women 

in houses found empty

for the very first time

who venture to pen words

held inside for decades.

Here's to the men

expressing thoughts

both fragile and bold

sharing shame and hopes

held hostage within.

And here's to the misfits

the disabled, insane, addicted, depressed

                                                         the lost 

who stumble here in hopes

their most inner of fears will be

read, heard, validated 

to assure them

by the simple recognition of others

that their souls

                      do indeed exist.

To these, 

who are now

the least of our brethren

lost in this enormous unpredictable ocean of choppy writes 

without the experience, relationships or skills

to bring their offerings to the peaks

where praise is lavished freely 

I request we dive

as someone once

                   dove

                        for us

         with an eye out

         for

         those pearls

 lost

     baring the 

                 hidden treasure

                           of 

                   human beings.

.