What it Feels Like to Encourage a Friend to Share their Poetry

Especially When They Are Shy

Photo by Qasim Malick on Unsplash

On the cusp of courage

You held an open journal
across your knees, spine down, pages up.
Exposed like
an invitation that I accidentally, on purpose,
peered over you to read as I mouthed
words that were not yet
meant for me.