Balasana, The Child's Pose

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Curl up. Curl in. Get little and listen.

Back like a shell, a cave, a birdhouse.

Go inside. Go back. A back like a den,

your back to the wind.

Call yourself back, back into the walnut shell,

turtle, or clam: retreat. Pause from harm’s way.

Soft on the inside, space enough for breath,

tight enough to compress – for the hug of it.

Self hug self.

Curl under your back, under a rock, inside the rock.

Thrive in there.