FAMILY.

I argued with you the other day

        And it hurt me.

Didn't put my ego to one side

to understand the stress in your plight;

Rang you back to apologize,

But your voice mail replied,

The both of us; blinded by pride,

Hurtled emotional bombs to maim,

Said our goodbyes, in a cloud of blame,

Nothing solved

Nothing justified,

What was needed was forgiveness to shine.

Family; we never chose to be with,

A deciding fact of fate,

Created by others to shape, the bonds 

that are eventually made.

I conversed with you the other day

       And true affinity ensued.

I cherish the sentiments,

The simple, outspoken, outrageous comments,

Opinionated issues, heated moments,

Understood and accepted, because we are family,

That intrinsic, unique sense of empathy, no outsider can reach.

Family ties; are subconsciously permanent,

Though some are subjected to conscious estrangement.

        No matter what the crisis

        No matter what the breach,

        No matter what kind of status is achieved,

        No matter whatever the boundaries,

Or the understanding of beliefs perceived,

        We do not choose family:

And yet the love and connection, regardless of how beautiful

        or strained, the truth is; it is like a secret language, a

        law unto itself,

Which billows and blows like fire, with deep love at its helm.