Wavering Persuasion

How about
Instead of throwing up our hands
Saying “Nothing matters”
We instead say
“Everything matters”

I ask myself again:
Why shouldn’t the way I live matter to me?

Stop and smell some flowers
Surely there are some rare few
Whose kind touches ring true
Who have no needs
But rather, wants
We can fulfill
Surely there is some good we can do
Some worth we can create
Even in our meandering foolishness 

I ask myself again:
Why shouldn’t I try to find some purpose?

Like anything worthwhile or horrible
Anything wasted or magnificent
We’ll be gone someday too
But today we’re still breathing
Here
We’re fucking here, we’re alive
With apologies to no one

I ask myself again:
Why shouldn’t I try to enjoy this while it lasts?

Reflection stares back at me
Wide-eyed, fearful, from shard in hand
Pressed anxiously, hesitantly into tenderness

It amazes me how she’s still, today,
Fighting to convince me

November 30 – December 11, 2024