The Same Creek

author’s note:

Take me to the river
And wash me down
Won't you cleanse my soul
Put my feet on the ground
       -- “Take Me to the River”, by Al Green & Teenie Hodges

I say: take yourself.


THE SAME CREEK

Whoever says you can't step
in the same creek twice
obviously doesn't know creeks.

Over the years
I’ve often returned to this creek

and it has always welcomed me
saying: step in

and I will wash your feet clean
no matter where you've been
since you last knelt on my bank.

Why shouldn’t I accept you?--
after all, no human can walk without
getting their feet a little muddy

and often more than a little
even when they tread carefully.

But sometimes a pilgrim needs
to become mired in the muck.
Otherwise, they’d never work to be free.

Of course, there are those
who choose to wallow

but aren’t they innocent in their ignorance?

So how can I refuse them
when, like you, they lament
their dim-sighted foolishness
and crawl down to my waters?

But credit yourself
with being wise enough
to realize what you win
by rediscovering your humility
and surrendering
to this creek
once again.

Poet, Heal Thyself: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
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© 2023, Michael R. Patton

Birdsong

author’s note:

With regret, I cut this line from the poem below:

“often you must become less / before you can become more”.


BIRDSONG

A bird outside my window
sang this song to me:

“Listen,
  I know something about hatching--
  I know
  you feel ready to break out
  but some invisible force
  seems to hold you back.

“Well, you can find the truth
  behind this dilemma
  if you listen to me
  inside yourself.”

I wished to learn more
but the bird flew away
so following its hint
I went within
and found in the dark a little cage

then as I worked to pry its door open
I began to hear a birdsong

that told me
while you ache for release
you tremble at the thought of freedom--

that told me
while you silently scream
from the pain of confinement
you also snore in security--

that told me
you’re building strength
through the tension
of this conflict.
Would you work so hard
to create peace
if you didn’t feel such distress?

The song also said
don’t forget to see humor
in the irony of your dilemma--
a few light notes can lift you
as you sing of your truth--
those light notes can brighten your light
for a world still living in a dark shell.

I’m trying to follow that advice.
But even when my notes
fall like sighs
the melody soothes the hurt
and in that way
bolsters my spirit
if not yours.

Dancing to Raven's Song: a novel
© 2021, Michael R. Patton

Untying My Lines

author’s note:

What a feat of endurance our life is.


UNTYING MY LINES

Alexander the Great
solved the problem of the Gordian knot
with one stroke of his sword
but

I’ve learned from experience
I can’t sever these bindings
with such suddenness--
no
I must talk to my knots

with extreme patience--
respectfully coaxing
all those fists open--
no use shouting
hurry up!

The fingers will only uncoil slowly.

I suppose
we need time to adjust
to the release of energy
held in their shadow.

But though I know I’ve no choice
I still feel frustrated

and so, try to comfort myself
with this knowledge:
a rope untied in that tedious way
becomes a strong line going out--
out into the world.

© 2020, Michael R. Patton
Poet, Heal Thyself: poetry ebook

When I Saw Your Tresses on the Pillow...&...Great Life

dear reader:

Two for the price of one today.


WHEN I SAW YOUR TRESSES ON THE PILLOW

How can these wild dreams be
true tales of a tame waking life?

I asked myself when I awoke
from that dream in which
your tresses cascaded
down a long set of steps

then answered that question
by shining a soft light
over your fierce tangles
and discovering there
a waterfall of fiery life.




GREAT LIFE

Frustrated by the necessary limitations
of my crib...

I find release
in the expansion granted
by my nightly dreams

which, I'm told
are actually pictures
of my pen...

what a great life we secretly live.

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