don’t be so humble

with your whispering ways
and sotto vocce
give sound to your story
give volume to your voice
the world cannot learn
all you have to teach
when you remain quiet

don’t be so humble

shrinking, shriveling
wilting into corners and
shadow sidelines
there is ample room
for the breadth
and depths
of the whole of you

don’t be so humble

with your: “it was nothings”
apologies
and deflected compliments
we need the light
that adorns you
when you own your own shine

don’t be so humble

presenting your ideas as questions
diminishing your innovations
with “justs” and “I’m not sures”
the lack of others’ vision
does not dim your insight
speak up!

don’t be so humble

your place
is wherever gives you life
nourishes joy
satisfies your purpose
your place is rooted deep
stand grounded
unmoved by thundering “shoulds”

don’t be so humble

“survivors are strong as hell”
you have stared down the devil itself
and lived to poem about it
you have endured loss
you have overcome horrors
you have cheated the despair that
threatens daily to consume you

don’t be so humble

feeling guilty for laughing
for savoring the voluptuous harvest
of your aching labors
for receiving dancing goodness
and leaping life
after decades of death

don’t be so humble

your hunching small
serves no one
breathe wide into the expanse
of your spectacular being
let your resilient self-love stretch
to the far reaches of your
fingertips open
face upturned
bask
in the brilliance of your becoming

~j. alumbaugh