dream deep, my darling

in her dreams there is a boat
and water bluer than a clear day sky.
gently the waves lap up
beating on the sides of the boat like a tambourine,
a slow and steady rhythm to set her heart to.

the wind blows fresh.
salt and freedom flying through her hair
whispering promises of tomorrow,
promises she cannot resist
and faithfully, hopefully, the boat proceeds.

on the horizon, dark clouds,
lightning, thunder, flashes and screams.
like a wall her sunny day cuts off ahead,
the line between peace and terror clearly traced
but she sees the beauty in both and forward goes.

in the rain, the tears, the hurt,
she is at peace somehow,
understanding the cycle, the purpose.
the boat pushes onward, battered and torn
hoping it is built to withstand this unseen event.

on the other side, rays of light
painful to the eyes at first, thick and intense,
but when they adjust, a sight more beautiful than before.
in this new light, they seem different, the boat and her,
somehow the storm has changed them.

letting down the anchor, they stop,
soaking in light, warmth, the finality of peace.
there is a confidence present that wasn't there before
and love seeps in, filling every inch of them
finally fulfilling the promises they left port to seek.

there is a faith in it,
a belief that in port seemed so naive, so ignorant,
and yet unlike the others who turned away,
here they sit in paradise, more beauty than they thought possible,
at peace with themselves, at peace with the world.

that kind of joy, that kind of happy ending,
it takes a fight, it takes a chance.
perhaps they were lost at sea, only in death seeing this paradise they dreamed of,
or maybe they were right, maybe there is beauty in the pain,
maybe in the end, it is worth the struggle.

only the oceans know.