Light your lanterns now.

We’ll need their collective glow on the journey ahead.

Hold fire in your bellies. 

Keep coals steady to warm you through the darkest nights.

And oh will there be dark ones, so thick you can’t see your feet, 

so stark and abysmal you’ll lose your head in it, so afraid to take the next step for fear you’ll find yourself in the most terrifying unknown.

But don’t you worry now darlin. 

You were made to smolder and burn, all temperamental and hot.

You need that fire and it needs that unknown.

So carry on into the night, 

alone or hand in hand, one foot slow and sure after another.

There is no right and there ain’t no wrong.

Just you holding your light all proud and sure of it.

Steady onward through the night.