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 was severely abused.
Your demanding boss has a child with leukemia.
Your workplace rival recently lost a pet.
Your rude barista is contemplating suicide.
Do we consider the feelings of strangers?
Do we offer full empathy to our enemies?
Do we inquire into our grandparent’s memories?
Do we thank our fathers and mothers for their labors?
We could, you know, make it happen.
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 open like an egg on the ground.
I nightly envision a world ruled by love, and I weep.
I guess being awake makes it harder to sleep.