Look how the sun
shines this morning.
Hasn’t blazed like that
in a long time.
You wake up without
a care in the world.

Outside your window
the world is waiting for you,
and you’re energized
more than ever to step out
and say HELLO

fiercely, with a confidence
long held back and
imprisoned until now—
sprinkled with anger and peace.

When you think about the years
gone by, you slump
almost depressed out of
your mind

only to return
to the present, where you listen
to your voice whisper
You made it past the flames,
and you deserve a self-hug.
You thought the end
of the world had come.

You trusted in the edge
of mountains.

And the mountain
laughs at you, then says
You big dumb fool.
Who lied to you that
this side of my world is bliss?

You’re guilty of having been
a shallow, inexperienced fish.

Not too many
are let go.