Have you ever lost sleep, just knowing
The world is so full of heartbreaking
Beauty and pain and hope?
So full, yet so empty, like the ocean.
An ocean of tears, salty and old.
But the beautiful fish swim in great schools.
Even in the darkest depths there is light
For the strange, solitary swimmers.
I always lose sleep if I think about love
bringing new life, healing old wounds
Like the water that springs the world
And the blood that warms the body.
So why can’t I sleep? Because I am furious
With the inexcusable lack of it,
Considering we can create it ourselves
But simply don’t prioritize it.
We all have our dark moods, I know.
We can’t be full of love for everyone
at every waking moment of our lives.
But we can do better, because
Your childhood bully received worse at home.
Your demanding boss has a daughter with leukemia.
Your workplace rival recently put their dog down.
Your rude barista is contemplating suicide.
Do we consider the feelings of strangers?
Should we extend empathy to our enemies?
Can we carry our grandparent’s memories?
What do we owe our fathers and mothers?
We can always create more kindness.
We could send out the spores of love
With every breath, if we wanted to.
The smile is more infectious than the frown.
Every time I remember how far love has fallen
My heart breaks like a dropped egg on the ground.
I nightly envision a world ruled by love, and I weep.
I guess being awake makes it harder to sleep.