Transcendence

Would never dare say, to any human under any circumstance: “Everything happens for a

reason.”

Don’t give us fucking platitudes in the torment of our pain.

And yet…

From a safe distance,

in the presence of deep love and hindsight,

can we sift, can we gift,

our own selves

a more nuanced perspective?

“Forgiveness is not the end. Gratitude is.”

Because

for every

ravaged

broken

moment this life has handed us

we have the privilege, should we choose

of growing both more

fierce and more tender.

For although I would wish nothing upon me or you-

I would not be who I am or know what I know

in absence of

It all.