I know you're feeling like a failure,
starring at the white ceiling
of your pale bedroom for the
seventh night this week,
and I know you slept
through three
alarms this morning
you set last night with
constellations in your fingertips,

I know you tossed around
your satin sheets
holding back tears with
nothing but the notion that,
"hey tomorrow I'll start over"
and now you're wondering why
you ever trust your own intentions

Well I know you feel helpless
and you don't know anymore
if your life even serves a purpose

But I hope you get
some sleep tonight

and I hope that tomorrow morning
at seven AM, the sun creeps
through your curtains and lays
its warm palms into your eyelids

& I hope you sit up feeling calm
& unthreatened & you think
to yourself how peaceful
a walk might be,

and then I hope to god
you get out of your coffin
and slip into clothes
that make you feel small
but capable and cute
but powerful

And I hope you take that walk
and I hope the fresh air
feels good on your tired skin

and I hope you see someone
you used to love about a mile
up the road, and I hope instead
of glancing down at the pavement,
you look directly at him with
brave eyes and say "hello"
And I hope when he asks
how you've been,
you say "better"
And even if it's a lie
I hope you believe it

And I hope you smile
until your jaw aches
& you eat until you're full
And I hope you keep moving
even if the ground you walk on
is quick sand,

I hope you keep on moving
even if you don't know where
you're going,

I hope you find a reason to
greet the day,
even if
for now
it's nothing but a pretty new
sweater you want
the world to see you in