Keep Your Head Up

"Keep your head up. I'll be home soon," Says the father to his son, Down on one knee, a hand on the boy's shoulder As the plane roars behind him, When he knows all-too-well that war makes no promises. "Keep your head up. There's a boat coming. I can see it!" Gasps one survivor to another As the water claws at their bodies And the ship sinks below. "Keep your head up. Try to smile," Says the mother as she straightens her daughter's dress And cups her chin And kisses her softly And sends her out the door into the brisk fall morning On the first day of school. Silent, subtle tears roll down her face. "Keep your head up. Don't close your eyes!" Screams the front-seat rider As his partner shakes and cowers at the coaster's summit, The world laid out before them. His friend peeks out across the endless landscape Takes a breath And lets go of the bar just in time for the drop. "Keep your head up. You can beat this," Whispers the man in the hospital bed, Body wrapped around his lover As she cries into the blue knit quilt, Their fingers interlaced Around their golden wedding rings. "Keep your head up."