you are here

                        you are here

yes, others get unearned advantages
you are advantaged too:

ancestor to ancestor

goblet to goblet

poured strength to strength

through generations

centuries-tested, multiplied

strength to strength to strength

poured into you

that's how you squeezed into this life equipped

yes, others get unearned accolades but

what reward is higher than

that you are here

when so many times you should have died

in that dark room alone
in that dark room with someone

who should have never been

in charge

you are here, hearing these words

so listen well:

what gold-trophied glory can match

the fact that you are here?

less-equipped, you would have died

when that crazy man grabbed you in the street

when waters rose

when fevers raged

when you got that shocking news

when you were completely betrayed

when your heart was utterly broken

not even priest or wizard could

take such blood red sorrow

paint this day in blues and turn it

royal purple

you should have died

you should have died so many times

i cannot count them all

you should have died but

here you are

still here

still here
still dancing

-mary oishi