A Good Fake

author's note:

"One dog barks, one hundred dogs bark."
            -- old Chinese proverb


A GOOD FAKE

When I heard their growl
I started to growl--angry at how
they attacked beliefs I held dear--

I barked and growled
until I finally heard myself
and realized
I sounded much like those I criticized.

So I decided to work
to keep a cool calm--
with my unshakable peace
I’d defy their barrage
of false claims
and cruel accusations.

But though I’ve clipped my tongue
I can’t stop myself
from growling and barking inside--
lower instinct still rules.

Nonetheless
I maintain this calm face
because
to let the mad dog out
would only add to the tumult
and do nothing to help
raise us up.

Good intentions--but what a fake!
Sometimes I feel so ashamed

but then, in my humility
I cease to growl inside:

for a moment at least
I’ve raised my higher instinct
to its rightful place.

© 2019, Michael R. Patton
my war for peace: poetry ebook

Why the World Spins

author's note:

With appreciation to Robert A. Johnson, Marion Woodman, and Robert Bly, who showed me how our world myths are also our personal myths.


WHY THE WORLD SPINS

At the beginning
of our small but heavy planet
a woman and a man stood up
from the ooze of mud

but while the woman examined
the curious aspects of her body
the man looked all around

until his eyes settled on
the far horizon:

a deep desire then impelled him to go forth
and discover what lay beyond--

in his impatience, he began to run
and the treading of his feet
made the ball of the world spin.

The woman could see
the man had created a treadmill
and told him he’d soon find
the far horizon right under his feet

but the man refused to believe
he could achieve his grand dream
without tremendous strain and pain

and so, he ran on.

The woman then followed her own deep desire
--the drive to be together--
and strode beside the fool.

This pair created quite a commotion
with their motion:
pounding out earthquakes--
raising tidal waves--
stirring up
tornadoes and hurricanes
down through the ages
of the human race.

How does this story end?
Sorry, but I can’t say
because it hasn’t ended yet--
however
I will venture this guess:

eventually, the man and woman
will drop from exhaustion--
maybe they’ll trip
and land hard

then in the unfamiliar stillness
they’ll feel another impulse
deep within

and obeying this drive of spirit
embrace the ground beneath their butts
with whole heart.

What will our new life be
in that strange world of peace?

© 2019, Michael R. Patton
Myth Steps: poetry ebook