The sharp corners of stairs,
A valley of ups and downs,
Housing a river of tears—
My struggles swelled at my
Ankles, slowly trying to rise.
If I did not climb forward,
Upward, towards my Father,
I would be drowned by this
World, caught in the Death
He had defeated on an old,
Waterlogged cross for the
Redemption of our souls.

The indestructable diamond—
Made from pressure, suffering,
Shaped by the love that never
Relents, the Spirit working in
Our Chests as He turns the
Coal of our hearts into the
Glistening imitation of Him.

A circle of safety
Within a bubble
of activity—
Unknown souls
in unknown bodies—

Beams of light
interspersed by mist,
The reverberations
found a home in my
Head, spiraling in
my chest.

A melodious sway,
heads that hummed
In perfect tandem,
their voices disembodied
As they filled the empty,
soulless stadium.

Skinned knees
in thrifted denim,
Heads that tried to
shake out all of
Their worries.

The fallen over depravity
of a generations' worth,
Measured in the scales
of a pained boys' voice.

Lifted on a box of air,
my thoughts propelling me
Higher than the thoughts
shielding my vision for
The future, like tall heads
in a thrushing crowd.

Walking on the outskirts,
A smile crimped clean,
Holding on to the hope
Of leftover’s satiation.
Fifty feet away, zoom in
Until it’s almost like you’re
There, meeting success,
Your arm laden with their
Coats, falling into the idea
That you’re worth only
The change in the pockets.

Your hands grip around
Your midsection, thoughts
Cinching chains on your
Potential--uncurl them.
Watch the static in your
Hair loosen as you give
Yourself up to the arms
Of the only opinion that
Matters, the only love that
Can disprove the doubts
Of this insatiable world.