good night

Good night

to the scattered leaves
of my mistakes,

to the shadows
of wrongs
I never meant to cast,

to the unfinished ladders
of my reaching,

to the sorrow
of not-enoughness
that echoed
in my chest.

Good night

to the quiet fear
wrapped around my ankles,

to the longing
to be more

for those
I hold in my heart.

And to the dreams,

folded like letters
beneath my pillow.

Good night,

even to the ember
of courage

glowing softly
within my spirit.

It will rise with me

in the quiet
before dawn,

to try again.

To live fully.

This beautiful,

tender life.