Beauty in Commotion

author’s note:

It’s a little ironic to me…

...hearing “Silent Night” play over the speakers of a store at Christmastime.


BEAUTY IN COMMOTION

Yesterday I tried to calm myself
by sitting down beside a calm lake

but perfect serenity only exists in poems:

for a long moment
the air would hold its breath

then a gust of wind would sweep
the tranquility away
and ruffles would whiten into waves.

And when that sparkling green
had again idled down to a smooth sheen
a flashing fish would leap up
then splash back in silver spray

or mysterious bubbles
would rise to the surface and pop
pop...pop:
maybe an otter...but maybe a monster.

Meanwhile
in response to all these happenings
the birds in trees
squawked
and cawed
and whistled.

At the end of the day
as the sun began to set
I said to myself:
I may never achieve
the peace I seek
but by trying to quiet down
I’ll find beauty in commotion.

finding Beauty: poetry ebook
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© 2021, Michael R. Patton

The Wise Mountain Lake

author’s note:

Is it any wonder Bigfoot doesn’t want to deal with us?


THE WISE MOUNTAIN LAKE

This watchful lake tells me:

“long ago
  the deity we call 'Heaven Mountain'
  opened its heart to catch the rain
  so that I could be the cup I am
  and comfort people
  when they surrendered
  and begged for my help on bended knee.”

Yes, the lake and I both know
impersonal geological forces create lakes

but the lake and I also know
why I’ve returned to its shore.

And so
I lower to my knees, as before
and the lake begins to heal me.

What I Learned While Alone: poetry ebook
© 2021, Michael R. Patton