The Beautiful Struggle

binds, bars, and breaks
become
bows, bridges, and bandages
making me think
i can handle this

pain is placed neatly on shelves
of a safe with no combination
in the back of the basement
close the door for
forever plus more

we take the stairs to
an escalator or two
then the elevator up a few
floors above heaven
what a view
air so crisp
it’s like it’s brand new
and now we are falling, in lieu
of a love everlasting and true
let us continue

will you

shall we

transcend in the mental
and physical sense
Buddhists call it nirvana
this love religion gives up past for lent
lease to buy, not rent
arrows stick and bleed roses
shot from a bow that’s bent
pulled back with the strength of respect
held by the hands of care
aimed by hope and belief
this is what Shakespeare meant

creating moments of good daily
trying to square up with the bad
fuck that
i’m an odds man
i say 100 to 1 we can
outnumber, outduel, out love
olive branches and dove
be at peace
lead by example for my nieces
protect from harm my nephew
lessons for him, I have a slew
maybe you do too

we’re gonna rise
with our upward looking eyes
if dreams can be thought
then they are real
it takes work to give them feel
so you can grasp
that’s the deal
fair exchange
for priorities arranged

of those to whom
much is given
much is expected
from us
this will be respected

sometimes it’s a struggle, beautiful

you make the struggle beautiful