To My Kindred

Where my outstretched arms fail to reach you, I pen these words, hoping they'll enfold you in the warmth you crave, the solace you so richly deserve.

You and I, like echoes across time, resonate as kindred souls,

My mind was oblivious at first, yet my heart whispered recognition from our very first exchange,

It's almost as if we've danced this dance before, in lives long past,

How else to explain the familiarity, the connection, with one unknown?

A silent dialogue between us, scripted by tales, unnoticed by conscious thought.

I've tread a lonely path in this life,

A stranger, even to myself for much too long,

Acquainted all too well with bearing burdens alone.

Life's cruelty, at times, knows no shame,

Demanding belief in oneself when all we ache for is the faith of those we hold dear,

Thrusting love upon us when we're drained, depleted, with nought left to offer,

Compelling us to seek goodness within, amidst the relentless whispers of our flaws,

To hope, to dream, to persevere.

A cruel task, to find strength in turmoil,

To insist we unearth reasons to smile amidst our sorrows.

This life resides within you,

A quiet resilience urging you to persist,

A stubborn resolve to dream and achieve.

I know fatigue weighs heavy upon you,

Yet, I find solace in the certainty that this indomitable spirit within you shall not abandon you,

It shall fortify you, in ways yet unforeseen.

Be that as it may,

In those fleeting moments betwixt life's relentless demands,

When time seems to stand still,

Know that I see you,

In your courage, your battles, your attempts,

In your very essence, even the parts concealed from prying eyes.

I perceive your doubts, your unspoken anguish, your silent regrets,

I see you in your valour and your sacrifices,

Even amidst your missteps, your flaws, your imperfections,

I see you striving,

I see you.

There's no mapped path with guarantees,

Thus, lingering serves no purpose,

We bend, we adapt, for the ones we hold dear,

A beautiful dance of sacrifice,

But let us not break ourselves in the process.

Life, I reckon, is both cruel and beautiful,

Let us navigate its twists and turns together,

Like the dance, we long practised,

Weeping, laughing, setting ablaze the world when we can,

And finding rest when the flames dim.