dear "those who"

Dear “those who”, I worship you.

Those who gave me a stick and named it a pencil

who gave me a blinding sheet and called it paper

who called them inseparable friends to the write hands

those who smiled at mistakes, pronounced it “first takes”

then pointed at the rubber. 

Those who shaped my hands, hands that would shape letters

those who gave me more paper, pronounced it “power”

who nodded along, detangling my run-ons like yarn from my head,

told me, “the messier the better.”

Those who placed leafs in my hands,

called them books, portals. 

Showed me the ink on the page had meaning

and told stories, by those who made the stick and the blinding sheet friends.

Those who made the print jump and play, vivified just by my eyes.

Who smiled when I returned bright-eyed, open-handed,

“More.” 

Those who complied.

Those who told me the door swung both ways.

Who instilled my paper with what portals were made of.

“Its the same 26 letters you know”

And suddenly, I could construct worlds, which laid dormant

Until a set of eyes rested upon them.

Those who have become my origin, I thank you for what I pronounce “oxygen”

Those who have taught me how to infuse my texture in the walls of my L’s.

and scoop my sorrow in the basins of my U’s and J’s.

and kiss my passion in my punctuation. 

I pray to you for blessing me everyday,

Granting me reading and writing, pronouncing it breathing and flying.