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
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© 2023, Michael R. Patton

A Big Step

author’s note:

Yes, "tripping" has a double meaning in this poem.


A BIG STEP

Yes, we’re tripping
but I believe that’s because
we are taking a big step up.

I know I’ve tripped--tripped
every time I’ve taken
a big step.

We all step our own way.
We all step together as one.

The fear I now hear from us
as we struggle to step up
echoes my own childish moan
as I struggle alone
to climb yet another step
on my stairway.

From experience, I know
after I’ve pulled myself up
I’ll fear the next step
just as much as I did this one.

Nonetheless
I will take that risk
(eventually)
rather than risk losing
the life I might find higher up.

I believe
we not only fear being more
we also fear being less--

I believe
when our higher instinct
finally triumphs
over our lower
we’ll stop tripping
on this step.

© 2021, Michael R. Patton
Poet, Heal Thyself: poetry ebook
Myth Steps blog

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