When Eyes Meet Without Fear

I have stood before forces that could end me—
not only tigers in the wild,
but words with teeth,
and silences that growl
in boardrooms, in parking lots,
at family dinners.

And still, I breathe.
I breathe like the monk,
not out of foolish courage,
but with the wisdom
that calm is not surrender,
and respect isn’t weakness.

I have learned
that power honors power
only when it does not seek to dominate.

And when I held the gaze
of my fiercest fear
and did not flinch—
not even once—
it walked away,
not as an enemy,
but as something seen
and no longer needed.

© Susie Stiles-Wolf