Unkempt

Moments of despair and waves of crushing pain,

That gush and pass like a shooting disdain.
Through every tissue, in every cell,
A silent storm that challenges the swell.

The tears are commanded stop as they start,
But droplets rebound with all their heart.
Oh conscience, why won’t you take command?
Why abandon me adrift on any demand?
A courage once crushed, a hope that’s thinned,
Yet silver linings are softly pinned.

Why, oh why, does it come this way?
Why must the might devour the say?
In the past I must not dwell,
The future’s anchor not letting it dwindle.

But how do I rip and tidy in fleeting seconds,
To cleanse the pain that tear beckons?
To wipe, to rise, and be adept,
To silently bother, yet neat and appear kept.

With all that’s happened, still move on,
To chase the light till the very dawn.
To do the next right thing, steadfast, true,
With all my strength in all I do.
While rafting hurdle upon hurdle again,
I still forge my path through loss and gain,

Again and again and again.