letters and lattes

Sometimes
The problem is not
The pain itself
The pain
We can handle 
but the duration - 

The unending need
For our endurance
With no end in sight.
How long can we hold on?
Can we last in this fight?
Without sign of the horizon -
Without hope of the light.

"The dawn is coming" someone whispers
from distant shadows
we can't touch.
If we just hold on
    a little longer - 
    a little longer.

We wear our Stoicism
like a badge of honour
But there are no medals, no podiums
for the sufferance we bare.

And, what I've discovered - 
far too late in this life - 
It's ok if a little longer
is much too much
              too long.
It's ok if we need a little help
to endure what we are holding
It's ok if we cry out - 
out of pain - out of grief - out of strength

Sometimes I need to be reminded
They don't hand out medals for Stoicism
and I am not
            in this journey
                              alone.

Author’s Note: Originally published on Instagram by Steph Van Rossen, 2023 (Instagram: @lettersxlattes).