I drape myself in talismans, imagery of strength,
courage, peace, and harmony. Convince myself at length
that if I find the formula, the secret, I’ll be safe
from the monsters in my mind, their cruelty and hate.
What else can I do in the face of all my demons
but hold on tight and look at the sun? Let the light beam in
and soften the shadows.
Take the cutting edge down to a touch more bruising than a caress
but gentler than the battles.
I fight alone, yet not. Legions
beside me, pushing back their own teeming
hoards of doubt and despair. How do we know we can get to a place where
we can rest, regroup?
We don’t.
So we clutch our symbols, wear our amulets and stand tall.
I’ve got your back, you’ve got mine. We are all
fighting. Alone. Together.
We’ve got this. Keep going. Forever.