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

A Woman Wrapped in a Blanket Ponders a Paradox

author’s note:

Who is this woman?  Many of us, at least. I believe: most.  Including me.


A WOMAN WRAPPED IN A BLANKET PONDERS A PARADOX

As I sit, cozy on the sofa
I begin to ponder the paradox
of this knitted blanket--

I’m covered, but exposed:
these loops of yarn are wide enough
for a scorpion to pass through.
Yet I feel safe
under this scanty wrap:

I’ve found a way
to fool myself
but I think that’s okay--
because in the evenings
I need some relief

from a world outside
that constantly threatens me
with potential catastrophe.

The irony is:
I’ve gone through
most of my days unscathed--
so perhaps I’m also fooling myself
by being so afraid.

But I hear of so many tragedies--
sudden unforeseeable accidents

and even if I could persuade my head
not to waste so much energy in worry
I still couldn’t convince
the little mouse within
(I’ve tried, I’ve tried).

No, the mouse only responds
to the soft warm comfort
of this knitted blanket--

a fool’s peace, yes, but
when I’m thus enchanted
by the blanket
my attention shifts
and then I may begin
to worry about
the anxieties of others--
I wish the rest of the world
could feel this secure
at least once, each night.

I’d like to cover our planet
with a big knitted blanket.

What can I do in this world
what can I do
to knit at least a few
little patches?

My War for Peace: poetry ebook
Soultime: a novel
© 2021, Michael R. Patton

Inside & Out

author’s note:

Dedicated to all the worriers out there.

I know your pain.


INSIDE & OUT

Feeling defeated
at the end of another day
I fell back

and in the emptiness following a sigh
again heard that gentle whisper
of blended gender--
heard again those words inside my ear:
"Do not worry--
  I am with you always"

and as before, heard nothing more--
only silence when I asked
"who's there?"

yet I feel comforted by this occasional visitor:
I always imagine an angel behind my left shoulder
shielding me with the canopy
of its invisible wings

but maybe I'm actually hearing
a better stronger me
echoing from deep within--

shouldn't I rejoice at the thought
I hold such power of spirit?

Well, yes...nonetheless
I still want to believe:
I'm not alone--I am known.

So tonight
if the voice returns
whispering "Do not worry"
I'll again imagine a constant angel

but will also tell myself:
apparently, you have the strength you need
to triumph despite the defeat
of these heavy gray days.

© 2019, Michael R. Patton
searching for my best beliefs: poetry ebook