Truth in Hardship
Alone and stranded on a bare-naked island,
no food, no water, no warm toasty bed.
The sunlight glares off the endless sea--
my eyes and reality have not yet met.
I watch the first sunrise, cursing my luck.
My stomach joins my moans.
I yell and scream at the roaring ocean
and hurl the nearest stone.
"I'll pledge my wealth to charity,"
I plead to gods of every faith.
"I'll volunteer and do some good."
The silence said, "Too late."
I laze about the dirty shore,
counting old, discarded trash.
Down the coast, I spot a washed-up boat.
To it, I quickly dash.
I wish I had a knife or tools,
or even just some rope.
My excited, shallow breaths reveal
that all I needed was hope.