Endure

Let me tell you how

when all cards are down

and we realize now

that the hand we’ve shown

is one that’s losing.

And the eyes glaring

around the table as fumblings

we try to look uncaring

as our world is slowly crumbling.

And the chips that we

worked and slaved for just

slide on over there to

fingers groping in their lust.

And the things we built

our lives upon with strained

mediation just suddenly wilt

and our faces are pained.

There went the house

lost to the storm.

There went the child

to hands meaning harm.

There went the partner

whose love lost its charm.

It is in these moments –

these places where our hope fades –

when all seems turned to torment –

we have something held in spades.

As humans, we are not defined by

what breaks us.

We are defined by the hope

that allows us to endure.