The River and the Stone

The river does not rush every day
Sometimes it bends, sometimes it sways
Its waters run shallow, then swell with rain
Each turn and tide a part of the chain
And you, like the river, are meant to flow
Through the sunlit peaks and the valleys below

There will be days the path feels clear
And others when fog wraps the way in fear
You may stumble on stones, you may slip in the stream
But each step forward still feeds the dream
For you are both the sculptor and the clay
Shaping yourself in the light and the gray

Perfection is only a mirage in the sand
It fades when you reach for it with your hand
What matters is truth, the real in your chest
Showing up each day, doing your best
And knowing that best may shift and sway
Like the wind in the branches along your way

Be gentle with the one in the mirror’s frame
For they are learning through trial and flame
Every crack is a story, each scar a guide
Proof that you’ve weathered the turning tide
And even when you feel far from your goal
You are still a masterpiece, body and soul

Not all will see the gold you hold
But those who do will be worth the fold
Walk in your skin, let your colors be true
And the ones meant for you will find their view
Step by step, whether bold or small
You are still moving, still growing, through it all

The river will carve the stone in time
Patience will write the perfect rhyme
And one day you’ll look at the road behind
Amazed at the treasures you came to find
So, give yourself grace, you’ve weathered the test
You’ve got this now—just keep doing your best