Autumn Lamentations

I thought the sea determined the course I sailed

Its supremacy was assumed with storms and thunder

Until I opened my eyes to see myself standing at the helm

I charted a course away from shark infested waters

There was a time my eyes developed a sweep hand

Counting every second I watched as the world moved along

When I wondered if clouds traveled the world before crying

When the preachers told us wishful thinking could tame hurricanes

I used to tie string around my aorta

To prevent the drums from beating too loudly

There was a time I taught myself that hope was worse than needles

When the wind no longer spoke through leaves

You don’t need more faith in celestial divinities to know that greatness resides inside of you

Just a mirror and the moon

The night I saw its silver-blue light on your skin and tried to find your constellation in the sky

When you listen to the wind begin to whisper once again

It says you are its greatest joy and prepares its orchestra

Trees release their leaves when the wind calls for the songs of red and orange

But the sky sees everything

She collects our tears into masses of gray

She weeps with you

To remind you that you will grow your leaves again

That you will live to see the seasons of green

But you must first endure the phantoms of winter

Our recoveries begin after survival

The moment we stop hating ourselves for circumstances we could never control

The instant we see that hope is an image of what life can be

It is up to us to chart the course

Then breathe