2022

Where do I begin, 2022?

You were far from the bringer of joy,

Hurling loss after loss my way,

And it’d be a lie to say you let me breathe easy.

You reduced me to ashes

You took and took from me, until I was hollowed out. 

You gave me false hopes of positive, 

Only to turn and laugh in my face. 

I thought the clouds would bring me solace, 

Reminders of life moving on,

Reminders of how we drift and dissolve.

2022, you stole from me, 

Like an unfeeling fiend, you tore the biggest part from me,

21 years is all I had, and yet like a bitter-sweet symphony

Those years—I had them.

Yet 2022, I can’t hate you; you brought her peace, 

You’re letting her rest easy, I guess I owe you a thank you. 

While the replay of last words and gestures remain,

So does the numbing grief and pain. 

But I survived you, 

My heart, though weak, still beats another day,

Those meant to stay will stay,

And the seconds that turn into lifetimes keep passing by;

So now 2023, I need to know 

How much stronger I can be.