There’s something to be said for sustained hardship, persecution, maltreatment -call it what you will. It either makes you or breaks you. There doesn’t appear to be a straight-forward formula between hardship and the human resolve. Some crack under pressure, whilst others flounder. I liken tough times to living on thin ice. A metaphor for having no-one else to trust but yourself in a difficult situation. This poem was born from such musings.

 

There’s nothing like living on thin ice

ears- honed in to the sound of every crack
learning to control rhythm and breath

navigating life with tentative steps
…..all the while
learning to believe in yourself

©Vivian Zems

Real Toads- Tuesday Platform