Sunflower
Golden, radiant
That's why it's named after the Sun
Standing tall, with purpose

Never alone
It's joined by the others
Together they grow

Sometimes it seems sad
Looking down in sorrow
At times it forgets
That it's still radiant and golden,
Never alone

I think I'm a sunflower

Look at the picture
smiles and wide eyes
you may hear the laughing
but I don't

See us in the car
singing and screaming
you can barely hear yourself thinking
but that's all I hear

Is this what it's like?
Is this how it's supposed to be?

You see me alone
Silent and waiting
but all I can hear is the singing and laughing

I am not quiet
Yet somehow I’m quieted

I’m hardly alone
Yet somehow I’m lonely

I have so much
Yet somehow feel empty

Im falling
Then sighing
Crumbling
Then crying

I’m left to myself
Struggling to breathe

But there is another
Who sits there beside me

I whisper softly
Yet somehow He hears me

I kneel alone
Yet somehow He’s with me

At first I feel hollow
Yet somehow He fills me

Even when I don’t ask
he’s still there to save me

I am imperfect
And yet, He still loves me

My words were once empty
without thought or care.
Now they run deeper
my words are prayers.

waiting
looking
falling
crawling

standing
searching
running
walking

ga­sping
sobbing
dragging
dropping

pausing.......
thinking and then
repeating

waiting
looking
falling
crawling

"This is yours", I am told.
Brush in hand I feel the weight
It's mine, that's what was said.
The weight comes with emotions
Many, not just one.

Gripping it tightly I feel power
responsibility
excitement
joy
contentment
peace

...

fear.
It might be too heavy.
It is too heavy. Is it?
Who knew a paintbrush could mean so much

"This is yours."
It's ringing in my ears.
I look at the canvas and see something breathtaking
It's beautiful and horrible all together.

I want to cry, of gratitude
but also of disgust.
I've already painted
This was me.

Now I have the brush again
Where do I begin
What colors do I desire?
What colors do I cover?
What colors do I add?

I dip the entire brush
into the vibrant sunrise yellow
"This is yours"
Echoes in my heart.

we are still here, after all of it