A New Day

A New Day

This poem is dedicated to my father, who passed away on April 10, 2002.

Every night I collapse into bed unsure
If I want to get back out of bed at all.
I lay between the sheets exhausted
But unable and unwilling to sleep.
So much on my mind.
I turn to look out the window and see
The first stirrings of life
Breaking the stillness of the night.
It is a new day.
I get out of bed with a smile—
I am no longer tired.
And I realize that, as the sun rises along with my smile,
Although sorrow and grief have provoked sadness in my heart,
I have to go on living.
I must keep rising with the sun
And greet each new day.
I won’t live forever—
I must live my life
In the best way I know how—
Free of tragedy and sadness.
And now, as I look out upon this new morning, I realize
I’m already doing that.