Exit

What a taunt!
The bright rouge emanating from the E-X-I-T cut out
An escape from danger

If only there was an exit door for life's
Endless burdens
If only there was a way out of pain
A quick getaway, a dodge, a diverted bullet...

But alas! there's only an exit for imminent threats
Only an escape from unnecessary hurts

But life's struggles need to be felt
Need to be tantalized, heard, understood, suffered

For only through that is there any true escape
Any exit into the bright sun awaiting: the reward for perseverance,
The excavation of life's thorns

There is relief when a pain is resolved, freedom from a boxed cage,
More satisfying than a cop out,
An unaccomplished success, a failure in itself

But this time I'll suffer
I'll embark on the journey if it means I'll survive the waterfall
And drift in the river's current, in the calm flow of life
Until the next rapids begin anew
Then I'll jump and soar into trials of waters deep
Only if I know my final exit
Sends me to you