Wave After Wave

Stunned silence.
Head-spinning confusion.
Chest collapsing grief.
Exhaustion.

Grinning-ear-to-ear JOY!
Mundane office job neutrality.
Brows-furrowed determination.
Pensive sadness.

Unpredictable cycle
After
Cycle.

The only thing that can be done
Is allow it.

I am fifteen feet off the beach,
Letting the waves carry me
Up.
Down.
Under.

In.
Out.
Wherever they please.

One emotion
At a time,
Full volume.

I’m doing better than I ought to be
Because I am not allowing fear
To be the wave that overtakes me.