The Broken and the Brave

Looking back to the time
not so long ago in tears
lifetimes ago in emotion
when all looked so bleak

and death took the time
to stare me in the face
three times visiting me
his eyes an empty abyss

I should have been gone
reduced to a memory
a set picture in a frame
sitting of a family shelf

but somehow I didn’t
I got through it all
the body did recover
the soul took longer

I am now recovered
I am in a better place
I will be fine I think
I now look to others

look to the broken
and the very brave
who are now where I
once stood in despair

I care for them all
and do try to help
as much as a can
with words of hope

that there is a path
out of the drinking
out of the sickness
retracing you steps

to the real individual
that you always were
who got lost in life
regardless of fortune

it is a good feeling,
realizing you need to
stop trying to control
events in your life

to stop the pretense
the performed appearance
manipulation of judgement
of other people who

don’t really care for
who you really are
or what you do
actually never did

and for someone
to fall into this trap
is no call for shame
for we all fall in it

at some point in life
in various degrees
but the consequences
are different for people

but the people who are
the broken and the brave
will find their way back
with a lantern of hope

and there you will find
your brother and sisters
who survived the pain
and found a way back

band of weary warriors
who are glad to see you
glad to have you back
back where you belong.