Slant

Tell all the Truth but tell it slant —
Success in Circuit lies
Too bright for our infirm Delight
The Truth’s superb surprise

As Lightning to the Children eased
With explanation kind
The Truth must dazzle gradually
Or every man be blind —
-- Emily Dickinson, #1129, c. 1868

Ms. Dickinson seems to have understood my problem some 150 years ago.

Telling my experience in a way that doesn’t blind requires that I be willing and able to dazzle gradually, to offer divine surprise in a kind and slant way.

The challenge of getting anyone to understand where I am now, even a trained clinical professional, just feels overwhelming and futile.

The proffered solution will probably be to roll back, to attenuate, to modulate, to sever bits of me that appear to be too much so I can take a place in a world that can only be reached slant.

I am too old to limber myself to limbo under other people’s fears and expectations, too calcified to life a life slant.

Thanks, Ms. Dickinson.   You make the challenge and the choice clear and simple.