Fortresses

When life becomes a peppermill
and uses you for spice,
you sometimes say a few choice words
although it isn’t nice.

When you endure a long heat wave
without the merest fan,
you often have to play it cool
not knowing if you can.

Amid the glow of fireflies
beneath ten thousand eyes,
both lightning bugs and stars give light
to honor all the tries.

Despite the grind and prolonged heat,
each try provides a lift;
it is like a high-flying kite,
and that’s a precious gift.

Sometimes sandcastles will succumb
to life’s relentless tide.
Yet we build castles in ourselves
by knowing that we tried.


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