An Ensemble of Edicts

“The gift turned inward, unable to be given, becomes a heavy burden, even sometimes a kind of poison.  It is as though the flow of life were backed up.” -May Sarton

“If you do not bring forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you.  If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you.” -Jesus, from the Gospel of Thomas, verse 70

Harlem by Langston Hughes

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore—

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over— 

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags 

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

Dreams don’t have timelines,

deadlines,

and aren’t always in 

straight lines.

Jump anyway.

-Jason Reynolds, from For Everyone