Thankfulness

Waking up in the morning: The way the blankets cling And shiver against my skin. That first breath that tells me I'm Alive and fighting. The sleepy darkness, An envelope of silence; The way the sunlight glows against closed curtains, Like someone I once knew asking to be let in. In the bathroom, The way cold water feels against my face as white skin blooms This body I hate Holds me, keeps me standing, waits Gentle after each tantrum on the bathroom floor. At breakfast, I eat because I know there's more, Or something worth fighting for: Like darkness, sunlight, water, poetry, a little boy I left at home But will return to soon. Yet the journey is slow and takes time. Fingers linger over my cup of tea, Reminding me That honey is the color of sunshine And sunshine the color of hope.