Hopeful

***
The first step is always the worst.
Leap of faith.
Stumbling over the clouds, no parachute in sight,
The wetness of the water’s surface
Breaking against your feet.
That’s when you really understand.
This is real.
Sink or walk?
Swimming is not an option.

And so you grasp at the future,
Expecting to shake gravity’s hand and then
Wish it goodbye,
Go busy yourself with the painting of your new home –
A gentle sky blue.
Expecting to study your reflection
In nature’s mirror;
Not quite realizing what it is you’re doing.

For now, you’re in darkness,
Winter solstice,
Waiting anxiously for the round, white star
To set ablaze.
For the first hue of pink and orange to
Pierce the horizon,
Slowly bleeding away the blackness.

The seconds pass as you fall through the atmosphere,
Gravity’s toy.
The second pass as your second foot
Snakes out of the boat,
At the mercy of the waves.

Tick…tick…and suddenly
The doubt, the fear, march in,
Unafraid.
Surprise attack.
They’ve caught you in the arms of faith.
And they’re going to clobber you both.

But they don’t know
They stand no chance.
Because you’re already too far gone.
You’ve seen the vision.
You’ve dreamed the dream.
You hope.