Rebellion of Love

author’s note:

Planning my winter.


REBELLION OF LOVE

One day
(hopefully, still far away)
my body will refuse to stand up
when my warm thoughts grow hot.

Will refuse, refuse—
no matter what tricks I use.

But though held down
by the dictates of nature
I can still rebel
by prying my heart open
and releasing all the love
hidden behind my passion.

Road to Somewhere: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Music of a Higher Desire

author’s note:

Desire writes so many songs in the heart.


MUSIC OF A HIGHER DESIRE

Sometimes in the bath I’ll sing.

And sometimes a bird outside sings with me.

But I sing:
Oh, how I wish I had wings!
While the bird in the birdbath sings:
Oh, how I wish I had arms!

However, I believe
the bird and I share the same basic desire:

We want to open
the cage of our hearts with song.
So our low notes will rise.
We want to lift ourselves up
to the opera of a new blue sky.

Road to Somewhere: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Deep Autumn Pond

author’s note:

Meditation isn’t an escape; it's a return.


DEEP AUTUMN POND

Years ago
while lolling in the afternoon sun
angling down through the leaves
I suddenly felt so quiet—

I was a still pond.

But only for a moment.
Soon, a falling leaf rippled my waters
and I rose to my feet.

In the years since then
I’ve tried many times
to return to that perfect moment.

And indeed—
if I delve down deep enough
sometimes the eye of the sun
will float up from the muck
at the bottom of this old pond.

And then I can see in the dark.

For a moment, at least.

Until another falling leaf
ripples the surface
and tells me:
time to rise to your feet.

Road to Somewhere: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Beauty Below the Surface

author’s note:

“All the carnal beauty of my wife
  Is but skin deep…”
         -- Sir Thomas Overbury


BEAUTY BELOW THE SURFACE

As a boy, I heard:
Beauty is only skin deep.

So I decided I should try
to see beneath the surface.

And so when I met her
I could see the stitching of her deep scars
and knew she’d healed her wounds.

I saw her beauty
because I was willing
to look down deep
and see her strength.

Road to Somewhere: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton