The darkness comes around,
a seemingly endless cave
will come to light

persevere even
through the coldest
nights
and find what exists
at the other end
of it

Persist, even in the midst
of tremendous pressure,
when the end of the road
is out of sight

hang on, even when depleted,
and find that life's greatest
surprises arise
when you're just about
to
give up

Take only what you can carry,
Only what you need.
Just enough to feed and water
You and a faithful steed.

Forget the path well trodden,
That will not help you on your way.
Instead forge your own trail
For others to follow one day.

Never shy from an opportunity
Throw yourself through every door.
For this life is an adventure,
Now go,
Explore!

growth, imperceptible yet sure
love flowers in your soul

gentle but strong, near yet far
loves overarching care of you.

your poetry reaches to the very depths of me
places illumined by your songs
secrets uncovered for the very first time.

But now everything’s changed,
So much ice
In the veins
In the air
In the room
In the gloom
It contains
Hurting you
Hurting me
Is now all that remains
And we don’t feel the same
As we used to before
When I open the door
It’s like bracing for war
And I see us still trying
To desperately cling
But we keep going back
To the same exact thing
Such irreparable harm
Such appalling disgrace
Can’t erase
The betrayal
Just watch as it breaks
Us down further
In fervor
In heartache
Inveigh
When no terms of endearment
We have left to say