save the world

since you’re not dead yet but you should be

swear you’ll save the world

because you’ll be the first to know and the first

to ever do anything about it.

swear to me that your eyes will see beyond yourself

and you will realize you aren’t alone in the universe

and the people you keep close choose to stay 

for a reason only the heavens know. 

swear to me that your ears will capture the faintest 

whisper of a secret floating in the wind — 

something you weren’t supposed to hear yet fate had to tell you

you are, after all, the center of your own world. 

swear to me that your lips will only speak the messages

your heart intends to convey; even if it’s messy

                                                even if it’s imperfect

at the end of the day it came from you

and that should be enough for anyone, especially yourself. 

swear to me your hands will touch nothing but the 

grace of fate herself, allowing you to believe you were

the wisest man to ever live, even if only for a second.

swear to me that your legs will never keep you stationary

and you’ll always be searching for the next issue 

to address     to improve     to solve

and above all, swear to me that your brain and heart each

acknowledge their respective places and when it is not 

their turn to take control

“Swear you’ll save the world

When I lose my grip

Tell me you’re in control”

• Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit, “Save The World”