there is a part of me that grips on knuckles white
(and maybe there’s one living in you too)
that says “we must always hope”

we must, we must--because if we don’t
even for one day 
then all will probably be lost
(at least that what it says)

and this part can battle so long and strong
for optimists like me 

reigning supreme, demanding attention
relentlessly persistent 
endlessly insistent
(but ultimately unbalanced and counterproductive) 

as the pieces that need to simply be sad 
in order to heal, disintegrate
gathering sludge and gunk at the bottom
of our personal well of sadness, stagnant

since the surface sad overflows at times
but the rest is never tended to long enough
to impact what lies beneath  

but, (as with anything we feel)
sadness has things to say
wisdom we will miss
if we never let her speak 

this is why i have learned
(am learning--and always, i think will be) 
to welcome all emotions, allow them their rightful place
to balance my mind as was always intended

so be sad, she is painfully uncomfortable--but safe.
and is not the destroyer of hope that some of us think

because in the end
there is simply no other way to heal
then to support her in her work
and to walk her cleansing flame

and hope is the bulb perennial 
always blooming once again in spring 

          ---sadness is a pathway but never a home  

Photo by Jan Canty on Unsplash