Stand In Horseshoes

For the kid whose family just moved to town,
for the girl who wonders who she'll sit with at lunch,
for the boy who just got picked last again,
--- stand in horseshoes ---

For the porcupine who bristles at the first sign of danger,
for the parrot who mimics so she'll never be known,
for the tortoise who finds life's safer in a shell,
--- stand in horseshoes ---

For the young mom whose children make her feel less alone,
for the empty-nester seeking purpose now that kids are grown,
for the widower who never imagined life without her,
--- stand in horseshoes ---

For the darting mind longing to belong,
for the wandering soul searching for home,
for the crystalline heart who can't risk another shattering,
--- stand in horseshoes ---

For the woman who dons an invisibility cloak while yearning to be seen,
for the man whose jokes mask a black hole of solitude,
for the one whose parched lips thirst for the cup of water
        your hands can hold out --

For hearts to start healing,
it doesn't take much. 
Just open your circle and
--- stand in horseshoes ---

September 17, 2020

I owe the title and concept for this poem to Aime McGinnis, who posted this quote on facebook a while back: 

Also: Horseshoes are better than circles.
Leave space. Always leave space.
Horseshoes of friends > Circles of friends.
Life can be lonely. Stand in horseshoes.

- Glennon Doyle, June 3, 2014

Photo by Leon Liu on Unsplash