Your Tree

author’s note:

I think I shall never see
A poem as lovely as a tree.
         — Joyce Kilmer


YOUR TREE

To try to ease the pain of loss
I planted that sapling in your memory.

And as the tree grew
I recalled how
your arms kept reaching
upward and outward.
And how your heart
kept on rooting deeper down.

But then one afternoon
as I placed my hand on its thin trunk
I began to worry:
What if the tree caught
some strange disease?
Then I would lose you twice.

So I began to gather its seeds
and began to plant them
all over the yard
then all over the community.
And then beyond—
wherever I saw the need
for such a tree as yours.

So I’m comforted, knowing
your tree will live on
through the generations.

But I will live on too, won’t I?—
through the work
of planting these trees.
And the more I plant
the bigger my afterlife will be.

And so I continue to plant.


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

The Life of a Walking Esophagus

author’s note:

My best answers come to me too late.


THE LIFE OF A WALKING ESOPHAGUS

When someone asks
What do you do?
I often feel I’m being judged
by eyes blinded by dollar signs.

Maybe next time
I’ll try to open those orbs
by stating this basic truth:

“I’m a walking esophagus
  searching all about
  for what might satisfy
  an insatiable craving for experience.

“I take in as much as I can hold.
  Then try to digest—
  some meals only stay down
  after I chewed on them for years.

“That’s my life, essentially.
  But maybe I should say: that’s ours.
  What do I do?
  I do the same as you.

“And like you
  learn from all I do.
  And in that way, add
  my little bit
  to the big soul bank.”

That answer will likely irritate some
who reject such metaphysical notions.
But if challenged, I would tell them:

"By finding higher purpose
  in all our acts, large and small
  I’ve elevated our lives.
  Don’t you want to live up here with me?"

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

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