here’s to the average ones
here’s to those whose hands are much too small to cover
the markings on their skin saying, “never good enough”

here’s to the once-dreamers
the once-believers in potential and possibility
hearts and hands that used to cradle glasses half-full

god, i hope you know
how brave you are for being here
how minute your chances are to even exist

and yet

you do
again, & again, & steadily still,
you do

here’s to the average ones
i hope you know, there is beauty in being alive
and the tired parts of you are proof of that

and you: you with a ribcage forged to toughness
by the stress and strain and other forces of human hurt
you have earned every single heartbeat

own it

(here’s to the ones who are only ever good at failing
remember this: the world is kept alive
by people who try)