I recently came up with this poem out of thin air. I got all situated to start a new chapter in a novel I am working on and got entirely sidetracked with creating a poem. I’d get a verse down and say, “okay, I’ll finish it tomorrow.” However, as I am sure you are all aware, when the creative juices begin to flow, they do not calm quickly. I caved in and finished the poem.

The point and purpose of the words are to touch on the fear of collecting countless failures. We soon realize that the failures are guarded by a glasshouse that we created in our minds. It is meant to inspire hope and flush out the desire to quit, ultimately replacing it with the desire to persevere.

The Graveyard of Hopes

My efforts futile, so I lay you in the ground next to the others,
With a deep breath and a sigh, I continue forward, anticipating defeat,
A modicum of happiness as I lay my burdens down anxiety smothers,
I file down the fangs of failure as I refuse to retreat,
It feels different this time something changed within me,
Hope cloaked in specious delight, but still, I falter,
I lay you into the ground asking how can it be,
With a blood-soaked tongue I say, it is my mind I must alter,
Determination amassed a graveyard of failures that cannot die in vain,
Armed and bemedaled with a mountain of mental fortitude,
I resile not as you huff and puff from your glasshouse, ignorant to my pain,
Refusing to bury another, I throw rocks as the words elude,
The Graveyard of Hopes, a glasshouse that shatters quickly in fear,
Atop my summit, I mourn my losses, nurturing the graveyard with a tear.

Thanks for reading!
Travis

Travis J. McRoy 2021 All Rights Reserved.