Though some might call you beautiful,
some might call you kind,
some might say you are a journey
where every lost soul learns to find.
But I have seen your other face,
the one you hide from morning light,
the one that breaks a hopeful heart
and teaches laughter how to fight.
Life, don’t be cruel.
Not every back is built for burden,
not every smile can hide the pain,
not every soul that walks in silence
has the strength to rise again.
You give some people silver mornings,
soft roads, and open doors,
while others kneel beside their dreams
and gather hope from broken floors.
You let some children sleep in comfort,
while others count the stars for bread.
You let some homes be filled with music,
while grief sits quietly by another bed.
Life, don’t be cruel.
There are mothers hiding tears in kitchens,
fathers tired but still pretending,
young people chasing borrowed futures,
old people praying for a gentle ending.
There are hands that work from dawn till darkness,
yet return with almost nothing gained.
There are hearts that give out kindness,
yet receive back scars and pain.
Some might call you a teacher,
but your lessons cut too deep.
Some might call you a river,
but your waters make us weep.
Still, we rise within your storms.
Still, we breathe through every fall.
Still, we carry little candles
through the darkness of it all.
So life, if you must test us,
leave us something we can hold.
If you must bend our spirit,
do not turn our warm hearts cold.
Give the weary one a sunrise.
Give the broken one a song.
Give the dreamer one more reason
to believe they still belong.
Life, don’t be cruel.
Be firm, but not unkind.
Be deep, but not destructive.
Be a road where wounded people
can still leave pain behind.
For even when you hurt us,
we still search for your grace.
Even when you break us,
we still look you in the face.
And though some might call you bitter,
and some may fear your rule,
I still whisper through my tears:
Life,
don’t be cruel.