The first Noel, the therapist said Was “How are you coping?” — I bowed my head I planned what I’d say all night in bed But lost every word I meant to have said Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm Born is the stress that I know too well They asked me, “How’s your sleep been now?” I laughed and said, “I don’t know how” They wrote it down, as if that helps Like this was not familiar hell Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm Born is the stress they know as well They showed me breathing, slow and deep I tried it once, then couldn’t keep They said, “Just ground, stay in the chair” My thoughts ran off to everywhere Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm Born is the stress I Googled well We sat in chairs all set in rows Avoided eyes like that was code Then someone said, “Yeah, me as well” And half the room exhaled then Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm Born is the stress we share as well So here we are, still showing up With shaking hands and paper cups Not fixed, not cured, but hanging on Still doing this, still pressing on Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm Born is the stress we track too well But in that room, a moment came A laugh broke through — we felt the same For just one breath, we weren’t alone And that was more than we had known Stay calm, stay calm, stay calm Born is the hope we know so well
