Capture The Promise

How do we overcome this constant shadow? 

Day after we day we are drowned in depression, 

Constantly doused in the shame of failure after failure. 

This constant repetition, when does it end?

What's this all worth? Why another day?

To get that final A, the highest GPA, the honor role and pay?

To score that winning shot?

To be the greatest, but you’re not.

There will always be the one-uppers, the record breakers, the first classers

But that can’t always be you, won’t always be you.

We want to make a difference and change the world,

Leave a legacy, be the best we can be,

Only to leave lessons learned the younger generation chooses to ignore: 

Is that what we’re here for?

How can we break from our ancestors’ dance:

One step forward, two steps back.

Despite our greatest innovations, life changing inventions, we never solve life’s constant preventions: 

The invasions of doubt and pressure and stress and oppression,

The racism, the sexism, the hurt and confusion.

Children, whose lives have been cut short, numbered their fleeting days, 

Incurable diseases, broken families, friendships shattered, like leaves scattered in the wind, our very souls descended from war and famine, 

And the innocent who have been wronged,

Where is their redemption, where is their second chance?

We press on and ignore these countless thoughts

And hope that at the end of the day it was enough.

But how can it ever be enough? 

What is it all for? What are you here for?

If you turn bitter to the world, embracing selfishness and taking what you can't give,

Who will applaud your hate and vanity,

Your deceit, and pride, and supremacy?

The handful of coworkers envious of your raise?

Who is sincere enough to give you honest praise?

Your aspiring victories only to be buried in a soon forgotten grave.

And those who strive for love and compassion, 

With honesty, humility, and passion,

Charity to the poverty that will never cease to be,

We see what they’re here for, but what is it all worth? 

47,173 in 2017

47,173 Americans who could not find an answer to this question. 

47,173 Americans who thought this life was not worth living.

Do we succumb to this overpowering shadow? 

Do we give darkness this satisfaction?

In the end, who will we stand before? 

Not our parents or peers or past peoples, but a reflection in the mirror,

Reflecting our succeeds and bad dreams and misdeeds.

All are held accountable at that final call, the last draw, unbeknownst to all. 

When all is said and done, will it be said “well done”?

When you gaze into that reflection does it mention

Your highest aims and greatest gains or that sacrificed for those suffering?

When you listen to that echo does it show

That you stood for what you believed in and believed in what you stood for?

That despite the endless tirades of doubt and pain

You did not remain chained to this agony, 

But scorned surrendering. 

Why do we cling onto this seemingly hopeless life?

We hold on because we know there is hope.

Because we know that this darkness will not last. 

Because we know that the sun will rise 

To pierce these clouds of despair

And shine out all the clearer.

Like the pieces of a puzzle our lives will be resolved.

The pain brought us people and places we couldn't perceive before.

So reach past the burdensome blanket of fallacies and misbeliefs

To capture the promise that this life is worth fighting for.