Tuesday, December 28, 2021

You can bet I’ll jump the gun.
You can bet I’ll trip and fall.
You can bet I’ll miss the basket.
You can bet I’ll drop the ball. 
You can bet I’ll leave you hanging.
You can bet that I won’t call.
But you can bet that in my silence
I’ve been thinking of you all. 

You can bet I’ll keep you waiting
for your message to be returned.
You can bet you’ll second-guess me.
You can bet that you’ll feel burned.
You can bet that I’ll forget
every lesson I ever learned
and that the love you share, I’ll tell myself,
is love I never earned.

You can bet that I’ve been grieving.
You can bet there’s more to grieve.
You can bet I’ve been believing
you’d be best if I’d just leave.
You can bet on my capacity
to fall short when you most need.
But if you bet that I’ll get up again,
that I’ll strain to lift you even when
tears stain my cheeks and my knees are weak,
then friend, I owe you everything
and this note stands as the deed.

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love notes
a ritual to start the work week