The Center of the World

author's note:

At the age of nine, Black Elk experienced a vision in which he stood at the center of the world--Harney Peak, South Dakota.

But in the same moment, he understood that every place on Earth is also the center.


THE CENTER OF THE WORLD

When I was small
I often felt quite small

so I'd climb a nearby hill

and at the top
I'd survey all below me
and imagine I was standing
at The Center of the World.

At such moments
I’d vow to myself:
one day I’ll be at the top
and all those people
will look up at me
and finally see my light.

Alas, as an adult
I’ve failed to realize
that dizzy ambition.
But though my ego is finally willing
to accept defeat
forces within keep driving me.

So I still feel frustrated.

But I’ve found a way to find relief:
I return to that hill of my childhood.

However, now
when I climb to the top
I don’t wish to inflate—
no, I go for perspective

because when I gaze down
at our human life below
the game called “success”
can seem so small.

But if I then begin
to feel above it all
I’ll tell myself:
yeah, you’re at
The Center of the World

but so is everyone else on this planet.

mythsteps · The Center of the World

Get the Message: a short guide for understanding dreams
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© 2024, Michael R. Patton

Between a Lion & a Worm

author's note:

"Red wigglers…the Cadillac of worms!”
            -- from the TV series WKRP in Cincinnati


BETWEEN A LION & A WORM

The phenomenon known
as shape shifting
is a common occurrence.
Consider:

I've seen lions become worms
and hide under stones
after accepting the lie told to them.
But that need not be a tragedy—
a big cat can benefit
from living subterranean

because as a worm
it can feed upon
the rich life to be found
in the loam below the surface.

But as that grubber expands
its safe space
will began to feel
suffocating.

The crawler must then decide:
will I die as a worm
or emerge

and live as a lion?

I predict:
when we look back
on our worm-life
we will reject all regrets

because then
we’ll be able to see
all we learned
in our life as a worm.

mythsteps · Between a Lion and a Worm

© 2024, Michael R. Patton
glorious tedious transformation: a poetry book

How I Learned to Surf

author’s note:

I believe without question: there's a part of me that knows exactly what I need to do.


HOW I LEARNED TO SURF

Years ago
I felt my legs trembling
and could not see the cause

so I decided to close down
and sat myself down
on a flat desert stone.

But in stillness
I started to feel
mysterious energies
working within me:

an emotional ocean heaved and crashed
in waves of constant conflict.

I tried
but could not tame that storm.
I wanted to run
but felt too weak to stand.

Fortunately I remembered
a claim made by the ancients:

way down below can be found
the foundation stone of our being.

Desperate for security
I then dove
into those unruly waters—

in search of the stone
I fought my way down

and down

until I felt a calm powerful presence—

its big ocean bell
sounded out this message:

open...
open up…
open more!

From experience I knew:
inner guidance must be obeyed
even when the action seems hazardous.

So I opened my toes
my hands
my chest
my stomach
my groin

then opened my eyes
to find myself
standing on that flat stone—
my feet planted apart
and my arms spread wide
for balance, for balance
as I surfed
over waves of soil and sand.

A victory, yes
but I must admit
now, years later
I still tremble with tension.
But when a little becomes too much
I refuse to shut down—
no, I open more
and go with the motion.

In that way
I manage to stand strong
and ride the waves
of this incredible ocean storm.

mythsteps · How I Learned to Surf

Listening to Silence: poetry book
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© 2024, Michael R. Patton

Rediscovery

author's note:

At a time of many disasters, I'm working not to become a disaster myself.


REDISCOVERY

Though I don't pray
sometimes I do
lower to my knees
then lower my head
and join right palm to left

because this pause
and position
somehow quiets thought
and allows me to deepen down
and find that place of peace
where I can hear
the wordless wisdom
of what seems to be
my own god within.

In the humility of lowering
I again realize
my higher potential
and so
once again feel hope.

mythsteps · Rediscovery

Listening to Silence: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2024, Michael R. Patton