Strength

By Yeshaswini Srihari

Sometimes I find myself devoid of strength.

It's not the kind of strength that gets you 

To lift weights in the gym, 

Or carry more than you can from the store 

It's a strength that gets you through so much more 

I told myself that I needed a reminder, 

That I needed something to tell me 

That I could withstand it all, 

That I could fight these fights and win 

Or lose and still be okay with it. 

And so I put these words down,

For you and for me on a day 

That we need to hear these words to be okay 

I believe in you. 

You have strength enough to move mountains 

Cross the seven seas 

Take over the skies 

Or any other simple or complex task 

That you feel like you can't achieve today. 

I believe in you. 

I believe that your heart just needs a little break

That you're handling more than you can take

I want you to step back, and breathe in deep 

Close your eyes and try to sleep 

I want you to play that favorite song 

And don't be afraid to sing along 

Or watch that movie you have a thousand times

And recite with them your favorite lines. 

Act the scene that makes you want to cry 

And let the tears run till your eyes feel dry 

Because it's okay. 

It's okay to want to feel good about yourself 

It's okay to want to spend time on your healing

It's okay to want to process what you're feeling 

And it's okay to want to press pause.

I still believe in you. 

I believe you are a sandcastle 

Withstanding the highest tides

But still managing to stay strong 

I believe you are the rose in the desert 

Painting a picture that seems so wrong 

But your roots have dug in deep.

I believe you are that tree filled with leaves 

While the others shed, at the start of autumn 

You are all the miracles

This world could possibly see

An if you ever doubt that, just believe me. 

Believe in these words I'm saying 

Because I promise they are no lie

Believe in these words I'm saying 

Because as the time has gone by 

I've seen strength in you,

And I've seen the same in everything you do  

Sometimes I find myself devoid of strength 

And if you ever feel the same 

I hope with these words you find it in you 

To believe that this is true.

By Yeshaswini Srihari