standing up again

on thorny paths we scramble, we crawl, ever struggling to rise, to stand tall,

while all the while the machinations of destiny, of fate,

cut our feet, leaving us trembling as we so often trip, slashing our hopes,

yet we forge ahead with hope,

embedded deep,

so that we may stand up again,

however often we fall …

smile, she said

“smile“, she said with a wink.

I smiled.

I still am …