I came upon a woman,
knelt in the clearing of a forest.
Her features were worn
and the way she moved
made her limbs seem heavy.

"Rest your mind, child," she said,
"One day, all will be vibrant for you,
and all will be bright."
She gazed at me with sunken eyes
that radiated beauty unseen before.

I asked her gently,
"How can you say such things,
when you yourself seem to be distraught?"
She replied, "In one's misery
is where they will find true contentment."