when the hard things swoop in

talons open, beaks ready

to remove the cover, lift the lid

 

and shows you things are not

as safe as they once seemed.

that painful things do happen

to those closer than you’d think

(and maybe even you)

 

you cannot go back in time

shove down experience, re-seal the lid.

 

what’s to be done

once one is aware

that ‘surely not me’

was an illusion,

that there are things waiting

to steal away peace

sudden?

 

perhaps you can find out instead

that even though you tremble

you have the strength to stand

 

even when your voice is soft

you still can speak the words

 

even if your heart is sore

its beat is strong and sure

 

this getting back up

this trying again,

this is the force

that conquers the fear

 

            —resilience

 

heather pound 2024

Photo by Ales Maze on Unsplash