The Invisible Bridge

author’s note:

Realism.


THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE

A wise one once told me
I’d eventually find a magical world
by walking down this path.

So I set off with great hope, vowing never to give up.

But after many years
filled with many thrilling trials
today, I encountered an obstacle
seemingly insurmountable:

I found myself at the edge of a steep cliff
with a deep dark chasm below.

I could see the path continued
on the far side of the gap—
the trail spiraled up a mountainside.
But how could I possibly cross?
I’d been told
not to deviate, but to stay on this track
and meet its challenges.
Had I been tricked?

Then a low voice unknown to me
echoed up from the depths of the canyon:

“The higher the cost, the greater the gift,”
  the voice murmured.
"Try and you will find
  a foot bridge before you—
  its invisible ropes
  and invisible boards
  will support your weight.
  To reach your magical place
  you must cross this magical bridge.”

Though I demanded more information
my words fell into
a silent void.

The epitaphs of those who test reality
often tell us:
“He died a foolish death.”
But after walking this path for so long
I preferred to die like a fool rather than go back, feeling defeated.

So I stuck out my foot
and searched around with my toes
until I felt something solid—
something like a board—
then I extended my hand
until I touched an unseen rope.

I’m not sure how much time has passed
since I took that first step.
I think now I must be at least halfway across.
But maybe not.
Unfortunately, curdles of fog came in
and hid everything—including the mountain.
Cloud has crept all the way up to my armpits—
maybe it’ll swallow me whole.
How long must this test go on!
I can’t stop my sensible knees from shaking—
they say to me:

Any moment you could slip.
Any moment you could trip.
Any moment you could fall and be lost forever.

But though I can’t make peace with my knees
I can still make peace in my head.
I’ve now decided
to love my decision—
I will, even if I fall—
all the way down
I will praise myself
for being willing to risk everything
on a magical trek of discovery.

How Can I Live In This World?: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Truths I Tell Myself to Lighten the Load

author’s note:

I’ve learned to enjoy the daily grind.


TRUTHS I TELL MYSELF TO LIGHTEN THE LOAD

If indeed
the path we’re on is the path we need
then apparently, I need
a path that’s hard to see—
apparently, I need
to continually struggle
to find my way—

to search all around
with my back bent down
by a big burden bequeathed to me at birth.

Okay, but why do I need what I need?

Well, after some consideration
I do see these benefits for the soul:

Because I was given a gnarly maze
instead of a clear straight line
I have worked hard to find
the truth hidden deep within the center.

And because I was given
such a shoulder load
I have worked hard to find
the strength hidden deep within me.

Yeah, that stone grinds me down
but as I lose I uncover
the me beneath the surface—
I discover more of who I am.

Good to remind myself of these truths
because when I do the weight seems to ease a bit.
And if I then feel the need
for a little extra lift
I’ll dream this possibility:

someone lost could someday learn
from the lessons I’ll leave in my wake—
they’ll be able to see how
I eventually arrived
at the deep core of my being.

Maybe they’ll get a lift
when they read
how strong I felt then—so strong
my millstone
seemed light as a pebble.

mythsteps · Truths I Tell Myself to Lighten the Load

Glorious Tedious Transformation: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2024, Michael R. Patton

The High-Pitched Voice

author’s note:

“Life is woof.”
         -- anonymous dog


THE HIGH-PITCHED VOICE

As I travel this convoluted path
I’m accompanied by a strong dog
that growls when it senses danger.

But if a voice inside then says “go forward”
I’ll force myself to ignore the dog
and accept unreasonable risk

while enduring people
who see my way as haphazard.

Yes, I worry
when the dog begins to whimper in fear
but
a dream once promised me
if I went where I needed to go
no matter where that might be
I’d eventually arrive at a garden.

When I awoke I felt a deep desire
to find that paradise.
But how I could know where I needed to go?
I would not go until I knew.

A voice I did not recognize
then said:
“stand and walk and do as instructed.”

That sudden turn spun my head.
Hooked by mystery and myth--
I decided to trust.
I stood up and began to walk.

Obviously
I haven’t yet found the garden
but now I can see
this twisted path
spirals up a mountain.

So today I still feel
a grand sense of purpose.

Nonetheless
sometimes when I’m led into trouble
I will join with the dog
and bark back at
that maddening high-pitched voice.

mythsteps · The High-Pitched Voice

Common Courage: poetry book
myth steps blog
dream steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton

The Walking Metaphor

author’s note:

Based on an actual event.


THE WALKING METAPHOR

Sometimes a metaphor stuns me.

Like the one I saw this morning:

a woman walking
backwards
on the sidewalk by the park.

Soon
the trees hid her from view
and I recovered enough
to decipher my response:

I can see the past--
I can see I’m on a path
but
I can’t see for certain
where I’m stepping.

With that realization
I remembered
a dream from the night before:
I saw the tracks I’d made
as well as the tracks
I would make
shining on a dirt track.

That dream told me:
you must learn to trust your deep luminous eye.

That woman in the park
steps with confidence
--why?--
because she trusts
her deep luminous eye.

I can see her now
and feel inspired.
However
when someone walks backwards
you naturally worry they’ll fall.

I suppose I could pray
for her safe passage
but wouldn’t that show a lack of faith
in her inner strength--
in her spirit?

But I can still pray--
I will pray a way that honors her:

every day
in my heart I will thank her
for being
a walking metaphor
for all to witness.

mythsteps · The Walking Metaphor

Common Courage: poetry book
myth steps blog
dream steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton

Stepping with the Baby

author’s note:

Wishing you the best on all your big steps in 2023.


STEPPING WITH THE BABY

The bold blind wandering fool
I once was
has become a seasoned explorer who can see
potential risk
and knows
men and women of courage
do not always win.

Even those who’ve checked
every box on the list.

But this man also realizes
if he doesn’t answer the call
he will die.

And so
I lift my foot
to take the next step.

But even after all these years
a baby still clings to my back.
Being so immature
that tot couldn’t care less
about higher necessities--
it only worries about its own well-being--
neither reason nor cooing will stop
that child from kicking and crying.

So I do not try to negotiate
but continue to stretch my stride.

And when the raised foot lands
back on solid ground--
that child calms down

but only for a while:
   as soon as one scary step
   has settled firmly
   another scary step
   demands to be heard.

What a labor, the way we humans live.

But at times
I can put aside the careful adult
and that anxious infant
to allow another child—
a child of wonder--
to open my eyes
to the incredible life to be found
on every step of this path.

Common Courage: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2022, Michael R. Patton

Missteps of Perfection

author’s note:

The path is under your feet at
All times.
          -- Tao Te Ching (Cloud Hands Edition)


MISSTEPS OF PERFECTION

Though I know
I acted in the innocence of ignorance
I still can’t quite forgive myself
for all those missteps.

However, I'm hoping
I’ll feel the relief of a reprieve
if I can ever find
a grand design within
that mess of tracks in the dust.

But though I’ve tried hard
to clear the fog
my vision remains too dim.
However
sometimes when I close my eyes
and linger down in the dark
a sense of perfection
reassures my heart.

Experience has taught me:
surface feelings may lie
but deep feelings speak the truth.

And so
I’ll keep working to see
the reality of what I sense
so deeply.

Soultime: a novel
© 2021, Michael R. Patton

The Push

author’s note:

Often, I’ll want guidance...but then, I won’t want the guidance I get.


THE PUSH

I feel I’m being pulled
by some unknown force
along a path that is mine
and yet, not clear to me.

Due to this lack of clarity
the way I’m pulled sometimes seems to lack reason
and so in doubt, I resist
though I’ve learned from experience:

if I hesitate too long
I will be pushed.
Softly, at first.
But then, if I continue to protest
the push will gain in force

until I finally submit
to what I think I don’t want.

However, after I surrender
my anxiety may only increase:

though my feet march forward
inside I’ll still struggle.

So to create some peace
I'll surrender in another way:
I will take a breath and just listen
to what ricochets in my head

which has the effect
of quieting that commotion
at least a little
but sometimes more--sometimes
if I let that quiet grow
I may then detect
something in the depths within:
a dark yet positive mystery--
faintly felt, but undeniable.
A subtle shade of energy.
Nebulous yet stable.
It seems to be
both me and not-me.
Somehow I know it knows me
completely.

The force behind the push and pull, perhaps?
Or merely an accomplice?

Whatever the case may be
after feeling its strength
I will emerge, feeling stronger

for a little while at least:

too soon my head will begin to talk again.

But even as my hands tremble
I’ll step with greater confidence
as long as I remember:
though alone, I’m not alone
but accompanied by
one much wiser.

© 2020, Michael R. Patton
Listening to Silence: poetry ebook

Before a Step

author's note:

I may be a fraidy cat.  But I'm a fraidy cat with curiosity.


BEFORE A STEP

In the dream, a door swings open

as if daring me to step inside.

I want to accept
but because I see
only darkness beyond
I hesitate

even though I know
I'll eventually step--
just because I'm so
damn curious.

If I'd employed that guide
I wouldn't feel this fear

but without fear
how I can realize my strength?

Yes, when I finally step
at first, I'll feel lost

but whatever path I then find
will be my own.

© 2018, Michael R. Patton
what I learned while alone: poetry ebook

The Way to The Kingdom

author's note:

In my experience, dreams don't lie.


THE WAY TO THE KINGDOM

Last night I wished
to escape on the beach

but a dream came to pain me
with golden possibility.

In the scene I was both slave and king

but the king slumped--
useless in his sleep

and so
the slave had to carry his master
through dark forests
through swamps

but found enough strength
in this belief:

as long as he ventured forth
with sincere intent
whatever direction he chose
would return them
to the kingdom

then the king would awaken
and he, his servant
would no longer live as slave.

This dream might seem to be
little more
than a fanciful child's tale

nonetheless
when I woke from it
I knew again
how lost I usually feel

but also
the strength of my hope.


© 2017, Michael R. Patton
Searching for My Best Beliefs: a poetry book

Mountain Medicine

author’s note:

A poem previously posted and recently revised.  A poem for a friend who has moved on.


MOUNTAIN MEDICINE

Thank you for climbing
that mountain and planting
a flag and a tree.

I thought that mountain
was a hill--from where I stood
the climb did not look
so steep.   You warned me--

but I could not feel the pain
you felt--I had difficulty enough
just feeling what I felt.

Perhaps I was tricked
by seeing how quickly
you ascended.  Sometimes I think
you were born halfway up
that mountainside.

Whereas I started at the foot,
or even below--in a hole.

We have different ways--
as is necessary--but still
all paths have thorns
and death--

so your instructions
have been helpful--when I remember them
(though even then
  I often have trouble swallowing
  the truth).

But rest assured:
I’ve resolved to keep the medicine
you vesseled for us

and to add a few drops
of my own.

© 2008, Michael R. Patton
shameless self-promotion