When life gets hard as it sometimes does 
When the weight of the world is pulling you down 
When you want to hide in the depths of your bed 
When you don’t want your feet to touch solid ground 

When you want to close your eyes and just disappear 
And hope that in some dimensional shift 
You can escape the world that surrounds you here
That you can find the cosmic ether that fits 

When you have to part your hesitant lids
And the effort is excruciating, difficult 
When despite your aching, your most ardent yen 
There’s no secret exit, no miracle 

When you bring your hand up to your sleep-shrouded face 
When you glance accusingly at the lines 
When you wonder if ever they would become 
Prophets, purveyors of better times 

When you finally rise and breathe deeply in 
When you feel the pulse of your blood again 
When the vestigial coolness of your room 
Brushes up familiarly against your warming skin 

Then know that although the odds are stacked 
Up sky high, crushing, overwhelming 
That the universe still holds you close to her breast 
That there are still songs that she will sing 

So when life gets hard as it sometimes does 
When your heavy heart has robbed you of your smile
Slow down, pull back from the rush of life
Dearest one, take the road less travelled for a while.