Today, I was overcome With an unbearable Lightness of being. It was one of those days When death might have seemed Like a welcome release. I chided myself throughout; For what suffering did I endure To call life’s virtue, into doubt? None at all, the answer came. I had no right. Is what most would claim. But still, I wrestled With insufferable doubt. For I couldn’t find my blessings; Within, or without. I just couldn’t see, all the things I was meant to be Happy about.

They dismantled the bed We laid in, today. Piece by piece They took it away. From the foot Where I’d stood And looked at you That first night Full of love and promise The desire in our eyes, Alight. To the headboard Where we reclined You dozing off During a Sunday afternoon movie And me, pretending That I had too Just so that we could rewind. No more pillows Wet with tears No more sheets Wrinkled with laughter. They packed it all up Left us with just shallow, empty fears

You hear the faint thundering Of a waterfall. It’s the first hopeful thing You’ve heard all day. “If there’s water, then maybe there’s people”, And hopefully onwards, you make your way. Getting lost had never been your intention But mountain trails are tricky On that, we agree, without contention. And so as the…

I built up my walls Brick by brick Every insult, every betrayal Added another layer Until the walls were all I could see And I was safe Even if it was a bit lonely. For years, the walls kept people out Or simply at bay Long enough for them to decide That they…

The lights glowed bright In every colour of the rainbow The smell of caramel popcorn Wafted on every breeze that would blow And over the din of families laughing and children playing The carnival music played on As if it were saying, “Come in, stay for a while, listen to our song”…

Panting, sweating, heaving Muscles aching, head throbbing Eyesight blurring and your consciousness slipping But still you carry on. One foot in front of the other You tell yourself Just put one foot in front of the other And eventually, you’ll get there. And eventually, you do. It’s everything you hoped for And…

The sirens blared in the background. Though it hardly mattered. The streets were empty anyway What else could you expect, at 2 a.m. This wasn’t the way It was supposed to happen, I thought; As I gripped her hand fiercely. This wasn’t what I had planned, I thought; As I felt the helplessness wash over me. Just then, she squeezed back Reassuring, as though I was the one struggling And smiled at me as if to say, “Everything will be alright, You’re ready. We’re ready.” And so, we were.

It had been a great day of questing For sure There’d been no time for resting Amidst the fighting, adventuring and more You defended the kingdom From an evil mage And through your courage and wisdom Their fears did assuage A celebration feast was commissioned Much celebration was in store But, as you were about to be christened There came a knock at the door “Are you in there?” Called a voice Bringing back all your cares Before the door was flung open, leaving you little choice But to despair

The sun has set on another day, And as I close my eyes in sleep; Should God come, and take me away I know my soul would not unduly weep. For though all earthly sights and sounds I would be bereft of, eternally. The memory of your face and laugh Would suffice for me.