Life was meant to be shared.
Joy is not our own.
Laughter is best with another.
Freedom is sweet in the company of many.
Love was not meant to possess, but to be poured.
Community is sweet,
   and in it we have safety.

One is mighty,
   Two is strong.
        Three is not easily broken,
But together we can be unstoppable.
                                       Together we can change the world.

But we are not delirious, not disillusioned.
Not blindly optimistic,
not shouting out happiness just because we can.

We are all hurting,
      but we are finding healing.
We are selfish,
      but we are finding out how to love.
We screw up,
     but we will continue to forgive.
Heartbreak is necessary,
     and I will embrace it.
We are finding -- not a hope that is naive,
     but a hope transcendent.

A strength beyond feeling.

This is not a battle cry.
It is not a blundering, blind pressing forward just to get through.
It is not an inspirational high.

It is the transcendent,
it is peace,
and it is beyond my understanding.