All I Need

I’ve known her since birth
I could never leave her behind
she rises with the sun
and waits to fall with the moon.
In the beginning we were strangers
she needed help to develop
even though I was not of much use I stayed by her side
and she by mine.
When we grew up I got into new things
freighted. Sometimes I got into extravagant things
she was there to coax me out of my shell.
See my shell was fool proof: nothing was out of place
not a single personality, a piece of laughter or a gulp of tears.
She always knew where I hid- between caution and curiosity.
As I grew I set new goals
towards beauty, academics, love, friendship and spirituality
she pushed and encouraged
and saw me off like a mother sees her baby birds fly.
At times I wanted to give up!
I begged, pleaded, cried, and screamed
but she looked at me with my own dream in her eyes.
She told me to “get up”, “don’t quit”, “one more you can do it”.
 I characterize her as a lioness with a golden coat that shines when the sun hits it, tantalizing eyes that peer into the crevices of my soul, and a roar that not only calls attention to all those who hear but sets off a gentleness that makes everything alright.
But one day she fell.
I prodded her
it was a subtle fall
I called for her
it was a subtle fall
I needed her
why did I not see her fall!
She is more than a best friend to me!
It was my turn to be there for her
to find her and bring her back
but how do you bring back the one that has brought you through it all
Is it by instinct?
Or is it learned?
My journey was hard but she is right here with me
I would need her in the desert
because she is an idea, a concept, a moral, a feeling.
She is my determination.