Poetry is hope

It means you don’t have to be alone

Even when you are

It’s the light breaking through

Darkness swirling, spreading, growing

Poetry is beauty

When all that touches you is filth and rot

And for once you almost feel it

Even though you don’t

It’s the strength that steels your spine

Though it should be bending, breaking, collapsing

Poetry is passion

Sparking dormant embers to flame

Burning into and throughout your sodden spirits

It’s the courage that makes you brave another day

While they watch expecting you to cower, whimper, scream

Poetry is love

Peeling through your layers of hate

Exposing the trembling nakedness beneath

It’s whispered kindness on a breeze

Even when the tender air is still

Poetry is faith

It means that in the midst of cruelty

You can still believe

It will not be all you ever know

It’s the safety in your heart

Knowing that somewhere someone is smiling, laughing, dreaming

Even when you are not.