Free Verse Poetry
Deliberate. Conscious. Consistent.
It all starts somewhere simple. Simple but not easy. It starts with us.
Two different things can simultaneously be true.
We can be broken and brave.
We can be scared and resilient.
We can be devastated and strong.
We can be utterly lost while finding our way.
Cliches are cliches for a reason.
Rock bottom can indeed be a solid start.
At the pits of despair
Where we are one with the abyss,
As waves of nothingness crash on us
And empty aches spread across our hearts,
We come to a simple decision.
Simple but not easy.
A simple decision to let the light in.
And a stoic resilience to not let our life’s story be defined by our lows.
It’s easy to slip into bitterness.
Easy but not simple.
Bitterness is insidious.
It festers and grows and darkens our soul.
It’s crucial to fight this cancer.
It’s pivotal to give life so much compassion that the bitterness melts away.
Amidst the fight or flight of abuse
It’s important to hold onto the soft and sweet parts of ourselves.
To remember, we have the power to be a beacon for ourselves,
And perhaps to those around us.
A beacon that sears through the numbness and the disassociation,
To etch a vision of a different life in our minds.
We can establish a safe space for ourselves to breathe easy.
Where it’s not a competition but a community.
Care. Not cruelty.
Healing. Not hiding.
We can hold solid ground for ourselves.
And nurture those who approach us with love.
On the darkest of days, we can find within us
The tiniest flame of hope.
Here’s to fanning that flame.
Until its embers reach the skies.
Until the face of our souls can feel its crackling, campfire-like warmth.
To this capacity for nurture,
To hope in the face of despair,
To healing from trauma.
To remembering and reminding ourselves:
A peaceful day is worth a thousand dramas.
A peaceful life, worth so much more.
It all starts somewhere simple.
Simple but not easy.
It starts with us.
Deliberate. Conscious. Consistent.
Thank you so much for reading. If my writing resonates with you, you can find more on my Medium Profile.
