Optimism

It will all turn out well
That’s what they say
There is always hope
In the face of disaster
A new opportunity
A new beginning
Safety in numbers
Support will be there

So hard to believe
Why can’t I have faith
In the eventual outcome
In the improvement of life?

Those sing-songy sayings
Just make me shake in my shoes
In anger, as they don’t understand
The potential for loss
The probability of pain
The possibility of death

To hear some of them talk
As if it’s rainbows and ponies
Easter egg hunts
And perpetual Christmas
Makes me fear for a future
Where nothing’s realistic
Where all trouble’s ignored
And no problems are solved

Why can’t I have faith?
Why can’t I believe?
Why can’t I ignore
The troubles?

Stop pretending all is good
Can you step back from the brink
And understand all’s not rosy
Stop ignoring the pain
Humanity carries
On its broken backs?

It's perfectly fine to have hope, but
Irrational optimism helps no one…