Apse

No space can be safe for all,
But there are small halls of words
That will hold you in their palms

And not ask you to be brave—
Oh, it’s dark and bare in here,
But this was shaped to hold you,

To fit you, your thoughts set snug
In an apse like a shield arced
Of stone and steel. You can stay.

You don’t need to be brave here.
You don’t need to know it all.
You don’t need gods on your side,

We are not here to tell you
Who you should be, what to do.
This is a pause, carved for you.