the sunrise’s embrace

by Allison Contreras-Ortiz

at 5 a.m., i used to rise, 
each morning to catch the sun's first light. 

stepping from my warm embrace of slumber, 
i'd open my window wide, welcoming the dawn's pour. 
in its brilliance, i'd willingly drown. 

beneath the daylight's gentle glow, i stood, 
pondering, "is this how life should be lived?" 
hidden from the world, 
clinging to the colors of the sky each morning for meaning. 

caged within my bedroom walls, i felt confined. 
as if trapped between a roaring storm and a sunny meadow, 
uncertain of which way to go. 

but as the mourning doves' song grew louder, 
and those heavy thoughts passed, 
for a lingering moment, my world became still and peaceful. 
free of pain, free of weight. 

only light and balance left and a gentle bliss that whispered, 
a reminder to persevere and overcome. 
this bliss, a soft utterance of encouragement, 
echoed, urging me to keep going. 

and as the daylight swathed my room and graced my skin with 
warmth, 
a torrent of emotion traced down my cheeks. 
a hint of salt painted on my lips, a rosy flush overcame me. 

but these were not tears sown from sorrow's field, they were 
rivulets of catharsis, cascading in gratitude and hope. gratitude 
that i was able to greet the sunrise once more, and hope that i 
will live to see it again tomorrow. 

-a.c.o., july 2023