Two Nervous People Comfort Each Other

author’s note:

I was trying to come up with something for Valentine’s Day.


TWO NERVOUS PEOPLE COMFORT EACH OTHER

As gray clouds gather
we find ourselves without shelter
in a bare open field.

And so, desperate for comfort
I embrace you and you embrace me.

And as we hold each other I discover
you tremble just as I tremble.

So I try to ease you down
with calming words—
the same words you use
as you try to calm me.

But
my words can’t convince you
and your words can’t convince me
not to worry about our safety.

And so, we continue to tremble.

But at least now
we don’t shake quite as much.

Ironic, I guess:
despite our nervousness
we’re still able to comfort each other a bit.

No, we can’t convince our bodies
not to fear for their survival
as we stand beneath this threatening sky.

But as I hold your body next to mine
I can feel your spirit
just as you can feel my spirit
as you hold my body next to yours.

And so in this moment
we both realize:
even if our bodies fall
you and I, we will survive.

How Can I Live In This World?: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Dream Life of a Crab

author’s note:

We may be better than we realize.


DREAM LIFE OF A CRAB

As twilight softens the day
crabs emerge from the sand
and walk sideways to meet
sparkling waves sliding up the beach.

While up on the hill
the choir begins
its evening prayer song
under the open pavilion.

I hear a song wave rise—
starting with a dark bass moan
then climbing higher and higher—

the voices strive
until they reach the pure crystal note.

However they can only stay at that peak
for a moment
before falling back down.
They fall all the way back down.

But then after a breath
another wave rises—
rises up from the deeper desire.

A desire I begin to feel within myself
as I listen to the song waves roll out—
those waves spread out—
spread out through the night
until lost
in the complex mix of rushes and sighs
of a monolithic ocean.

With its song, the choir asks
for a blessing
and by asking, blesses all.

Blesses me—
as I walk this borderland
between the earth and sea.

I try to take it all in
but soon I must exhale

and return to being a crab.

A lowly life, yes
but occasionally I’m able
to lift myself up
by returning to this twilight beach
in my imagination.
And then I remember this truth again:

As I crawl sideways—
hobbled and hoping and nervous—
deep within I’m always singing
this grand ocean wave song.

How Can I Live In This World?: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Raindrops are Pearls

author’s note:

I keep trying to improve my vision.


RAINDROPS ARE PEARLS

When I look at those raindrops
hanging from that branch
I see pearls

because

raindrops seem of little consequence—
here for a moment then gone.

Whereas pearls seem to shine
with a timeless intrinsic value.

I say:
though we enter and live in this world
as raindrops
we never stop being pearls.

Scoff if you want, but
wouldn’t you prefer I see you as a pearl?

I say:
our raindrop life be better
if we always saw each other as pearls.

How Can I Live In This World?: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton

Forest Church

author’s note:

Maybe church attendance isn’t actually falling.


FOREST CHURCH

I stop
and watch the trees reach for the sky

and then as before
feel the higher desire
hidden in the deepest part of my heart.

Knowing that pain again
I vow to work harder to heal the breach.

Did I go to church today?
Yes, of course, most definitely.

How Can I Live In This World?: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2025, Michael R. Patton