Ouch!

author's note:

If laughter is the best medicine, maybe it’s good for me to joke about my pain.


OUCH!

When slogging through
a dark morass of agony
some of us will only say
"ouch".

By that I mean:
we'll answer your sincere concern
with a little joke--
understating our pain
in the manner of a cartoon character
toasted to a crisp by a bomb.

Maybe I'm not being honest about
the state of my heart
but to share my burden
would only burden me more
because then I'd worry
you'd worry
much too much
about the state of my soul.

Please, believe me:
I can endure what I must--
if I couldn't I wouldn't
be able to limit my cry
to this silly-sad
mouse-like
"ouch".

What I Learned While Alone: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2024, Michael R. Patton

Shadows Attached

author’s note:

I hear people saying they want to see shows with characters who look like them.  I say:

Even E.T. looks like me.  Even Rin Tin Tin.


SHADOWS ATTACHED

Years ago, some ruckus outside
roused me from my sweet blanket

and when I went to the window to locate
the source of the disturbance
I found men, women, children
running from the shadows
attached to their heels.

Seeing their fear pained me.
How could I help those poor fools?

I tried to call to them
but my little voice was lost
in that cacophony.
So I put telescope to eye
hoping to discern some among the throng
who I could awaken to reality.

But this closer look
changed my perspective:
before I’d seen them as “them”
but now I saw them as individuals--
none of whom looked like me
yet with each face I felt the shock
of catching myself in a mirror--
he was me but also she--regardless of age--
the child taking its first step?--me as well.

With that recognition, I realized
the best next step for me:
I would stop
and confront
those long dark pools
attached to my sore feet.

What I Learned While Alone: poetry ebook
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2022, Michael R. Patton

Confession of a Plant

author’s note:

Flower power.


CONFESSION OF A PLANT

I wanted to tell of my fight
without telling of my fight
so instead I spoke of a plant
I’d found rooted down in dark rich loam
in junk behind a shed.

With the airs of an aesthete
I described
how the plant’s little green shoot
had fought its way up and out--
with glee I wrote
of how the stalk had turned and twisted
between the pitchfork tines
as the plant sought
the dangerous but life-giving sun.

In delicate detail
I told of how the leaves

had slowly anxiously unfurled
to provide sustenance
to a flower opening--despite its fear--
offering itself up
to guarantee the future
of the species.

Through this metaphor
I found relief in public confession
while sparing myself the embarrassment
of displaying my pain in plain view.

But as I bowed in respect
to that beautiful weed

I saw in its openness a challenge
and became embarrassed about
my fear of embarrassment:

a shame I now hope to ease
with this confession of my struggle.

Common Courage: poetry ebook
you tube channel
© 2021, Michael R. Patton

After I Fell in the Forest

author’s note:

I hope I’ve remembered this quote accurately:

When told that a certain woman was very humble, Dorothy Parker replied, “She has a lot to be humble about.”


AFTER I FELL IN THE FOREST

I never felt the trees

until I fell in the forest

and as I lay face down, trying
to find the strength to stand again
I began to feel
the watchful quiet all around:
aliens communicating without sound.

I’ve listened intently
many times since
and though I still can’t
decipher their silent speech
I sense the trees pity my weakness.

Perhaps I return because
I want their empathy
after being beaten in battle.

Humility is a virtue--is honesty.
But I will only prostrate myself
before beings wise enough
to feel compassion for a fallen fool.

you tube channel
© 2021, Michael R. Patton

Found

author's note:

"I'm a lost man gettin' found."
          -- Woody Guthrie


FOUND

Falling down
I found my humility.

Standing up
I found my strength.

Telling you
I found my honesty.

Listening to you
I found my mirror.

Looking down
into my mirror
I found my grief

then looking up
to clear my tears
I found and found and found
my empathy.

© 2019, Michael R. Patton
myth steps blog

Joining the Chorus

author's note:

“Truth!  Stark naked truth...”
         -- John Cleland


JOINING THE CHORUS

Why should I be embarrassed
by this scar on my chin?--

after all
I have worked hard to heal
and I think I've stitched well.

Yet I feel still ashamed--
angry at how I allowed
myself to be wounded--
angry at my weakness.

Perhaps I can finally lift myself
above that injurious belief
by joining the chorus of those who sing:
these scars show our strength!

But to truly refresh us
confession must be honest
so I'll add to my song:
I haven't healed completely--
otherwise, you wouldn't see a scar.

Such relief as I raise my voice--
I'm so tired of trying to hide
the mark that defies the mask:

last night in a dream
a woman felt embarrassed
so I turned off the light

but I could still see her scars--
each one shone in the dark.

© 2019, Michael R. Patton
what I learned while alone: poetry ebook