Instructions on Not Giving Up, after Ada Limón

This little poem-in-progress is courtesy of another beautiful workshop with Sarah Bellum Mental, a phenomenal poet & creator of Poetic Catalyst Workshops. You can find her books here!

First, wake up before the fever dream promises
have a chance to break your tether
to the impossible. Stay inside
the belief you built when no one was
watching. Pretend your right now body
holds the string to the balloon
of your back then dreams:

When you rode a silver horse into the ocean,
but not to rescue anyone–not to be a hero
because there was no one to save.

When you jumped off the roof to see a robin fly
up close and you knew the same air.

When the black tray of seeds that took you both
hands to carry sacrificed their small
to one mighty stalk stretching to your best friend’s house,
became your best friend’s house,
became your home.

When you handed the rattle
in your chest a microphone, the front porch turned
stage, and neighbors climbed the black walnut tree
just to hear you sing.

When you went to the library
just to touch all the books
and you didn’t even have to look close to see
they were all written by you.

Scrape the false modesty film from your tongue.
Demolish the suspension bridge of disbelief
you keep walking on.
Forget the phrase Can you imagine?
Because you could
before.