No Checkered Flag

By Mike Stevens

Hour by hour, the days slip away

My life worn around the edges; tattered and frayed

This race I’m running; no checkered flag waiting at the end

I try to fool myself, lie and pretend,

By saying I’m getting better,

And I am, just not fast enough; I write myself a letter,

I write of hope and promise come tomorrow,

I fight against the hopelessness and the sorrow

But the truth is, I can see the writing on the wall

I put on an act; stand brave and stand tall,

Try to stay resolute, not give in to despair,

But every once in a while, I think it’s just not fair

I’m the first one to say no one likes a downer

That I alone control how I think; have all the power

But once in a while, the desperation kicks in

The sad truth of my situation will win

Sometimes I think that the struggle’s too much

It all overwhelms me, and is such

A cross to bear; such a crushing weight

That I just want to give in to my sad, sad fate

But that’s just not who I am; or what I’m about

I’ll look at the man in the mirror, get mad and shout;

“No way, don’t you ever give up; it's never over!”

I admit to doubts, but they'll be no giving up, any more!