I Wish I Knew You

by Emma Freeman

I wish I knew you 

before all of those tragic moments happened

when the light in you was still pure and bright 

I wish I knew you

before you constructed your fortress walls

and the locked clicked into place

I wish I knew you 

before you built that heavy dam

to hold back your ocean of tears

I wish I knew you 

when affection flowed freely from your body

when your sensitivity was alive and uncaged

vibrant and electric

deep and unwounded

I wish I knew you then…