Beyond the Shore If only you could see the heart, Beyond the roles I’ve had to play, To see the whole and not the part That’s weathered by the light of day. I am more than just the hands that toil, Or the dust upon this tired soil. If only you could see the dreams I’ve tucked away in quiet rooms, The silver light and golden beams That flourish where the spirit blooms. I am the music, not just the note, The ocean’s depth, and not the boat. You see the scars I’ve had to earn, The times I stumbled in the race, But not the lessons I had to learn To find a sense of inner grace. You see the armor, thick and cold, But not the story yet untold. If only you could look within, Past the labels and the name, To where the truest things begin, A spirit that no world can tame. I am a garden, wild and free, If only you could see me for me. I am the laughter after tears, The courage found in moments small, The one who conquered all the fears Of being pushed against the wall. A soul that’s deep, a soul that’s wide, With nothing left for me to hide.