Almost always it seems easier to not pluck up the courage and deep dive into vulnerability. Almost always this constitutes a great loss of true strength. Staying on top of our own vulnerability makes access to empathy and compassion difficult; two qualities desperately needed on this planet.

Bluebird

by Charles Bukowski

There’s a bluebird in my heart that
Wants to get out
But I’m too tough for him,
I say, stay in there, I’m not going
To let anybody see
You.

There’s a bluebird in my heart that
Wants to get out
But I pour whiskey on him and inhale
Cigarette smoke
And the whores and the bartenders
And the grocery clerks
Never know that
He’s
In there.

There’s a bluebird in my heart that
Wants to get out
But I’m too tough for him,
I say,
Stay down, do you want to mess
Me up?
You want to screw up the
Works?
You want to blow my book sales in
Europe?

There’s a bluebird in my heart that
Wants to get out
But I’m too clever, I only let him out
At night sometimes
When everybody’s asleep.
I say, I know that you’re there,
So don’t be
Sad.
Then I put him back,
But he’s singing a little
In there, I haven’t quite let him
Die
And we sleep together like
That
With our
Secret pact
And it’s nice enough to
Make a man
Weep, but I don’t
Weep, do
You?