Be Brave

By Una McKane

Thursday 1st February 2018

We'd like to thank Una for this beautiful poem written in Atsitsa in 2008. If you would like to share a poem or story of your time with us please drop us an email on holidays@skyros.com.

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I step from the bus, with my chosen goals, agendas, preconceived notions. I place my heavy backpack onto the warm ground. I look around take a deep breath pause and think "ah this is where it all happens?"

I am not alone, many people gather to this same place. There is  quiet chaos a nervous energy as one by one we are all allocated our private places.....

BE BRAVE

So many faces, So many voices, So many strangers.

Do I get back on the bus, take my backpack and run?

What have I done, Why am I here?

Seemed so easy when I booked, now I'm not so sure.... Quietly I say "Be Brave"

First three days exhaust me,

Talking, smiling, doing, waking, sleeping, eating -

Still too many faces, too many voices So many Strangers.

My emotions engulf me,

I'm angry, I'm tired, I'm lonely, I'm nervous, I'm sad, I'm judging, I'm giving, I'm taking more -

Still too many faces, too many voices, So many Strangers.

I don't want to be here, these people they are these emotions,

At breakfast, at lunch, at dinner and anytime in between,

This place so beautiful, so open, so why feel so trapped?

I pause again saying quietly "Be Brave"

As time passes the hot sun softens my body, slows my walk, settles my thoughts.

And so it is with others

We breathe softer together, talk together, listen together,

Not So many faces, not So many voices, not So many Strangers.

Emotions engulf me again

I'm laughing, I'm singing, I'm crying, I'm dancing, I'm praying, I'm giving, I'm receiving, I'm hugging, I'm sitting, I'm breathing, I'm being!

I want to be here, these people are these emotions at breakfast, at lunch, at dinner and anytime in between

Thank God for I am blessed

As I leave,  you have given me the greatest gift of all .... MYSELF!

My wish for you is, to just pause, BE BRAVE, step closer, look deeper and see that there are beautiful faces, wise voices and absolutely No Strangers!