When the rain is coming down so hard,

you can barely see past your nose,

and the clouds hanging over you are so gray

that they look like jet black puddles of broken smears…

When the thunder of your own thoughts clashes and clangs,

drowning out the lightning spearing out of your heart,

and the cold from without is wrapping firmly and tightly

around within and across what’s left of your joy…

you must remember

you must recall

where once it resided,

cushioned by faith and

buoyed by self-love,

it will resurface.

And you will be alright,

you will rise.