Writing to a Friend Who Has Retired to a Beach Shanty

author’s note:

Any big structure is held together with a lot of little structures.


WRITING TO A FRIEND WHO HAS RETIRED TO A BEACH SHANTY

Yes, I’ll admit 
your theory sounds plausible:

the careless behavior
of the human race
may indeed indicate
a secret wish to fall.

Not that we want to end our life, no—
but the higher we build
the greater our anxiety 
so maybe we feel tempted
to just give up, give in
and let the structure tumble. 

But because we want to calm our anxiety
we struggle to maintain our stability
and so, for now, we are still standing up. 

Like you, I feel nervous
about the way we teeter and totter.
So yes, I’d like to retreat
to the peace of the beach
but no—I know
my rest wouldn’t be 
true equanimity. 

No artificial peace for me—
no sitting down— 
I’ll work to maintain my balance
and in that way
do my small part 
to keep our mad tower 
pointed toward the clouds.

Get the Message: a short guide for understanding dreams
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© 2023, Michael R. Patton

Hoping for a Second Childhood

author’s note:

“It’s never too late to have a happy childhood.”
		–  Tom Robbins


HOPING FOR A SECOND CHILDHOOD

Parental salesmen continue to tell us:
“don’t worry--
  just get in the back seat
  and let me drive”

and we continue to oblige
because as children we were told
to never lose hope
in the magical power of heroes.

When I see all the wrecks 
caused by those we believed
would deliver us
I rage on the surface
but down deep I grieve.

The child who believed
we’d build a better world  
began to die when I began 
to open my eyes
to the world we’d accepted.

But this adult feels the loss of life
so now I’m trying to revive my hope
by opening more--
by expanding my vision

trusting I’ll come to see
the present moment 
as part of a process 
that can lead to that world
of greater understanding
we imagined as children.

I want so badly
to shed this sadness--
to help reverse our loss.
At the end can I be  
a wise child who sees?--
who builds up...who drives?

mythsteps · Hoping for a Second Childhood

I’m Responsible: a book
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© 2022, Michael R. Patton

Cleaning Below the Surface

author’s note:

We’re serving our country.


CLEANING BELOW THE SURFACE

Don’t tell me 
to write to my congressman
or congresswoman--
why waste time 
asking them 
to clean this mess up?

Yes, they know a lot
about surfaces.
But little, apparently
about deep cleaning.

I, on the other hand, saw the need 
to go below the surface years ago.
When my curiosity
led me to a murky shadow
I ran from the basement.
But that shadow shadowed me
so I went back in
and began to clean.

Now many of my many shadows glow.

The crew I’m on
waits in the wings
for end of this show--
ready to clean the stage
up and down.

If you haven’t heard of us
I’m not surprised--
hard to hear honest work
amid the dizzy cacophony
of a mess belonging to all.

I’m Responsible: ebook
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© 2022, Michael R. Patton

The Fortune Teller Tells Me

author’s note:

Physician, heal thyself.
         – Luke, 4:23


THE FORTUNE TELLER TELLS ME

In fear, we nearly destroy our life here--
fearing for our survival
we infect cities, forests, fields, and seas.

Then fearing for survival
we find the strength we need
to resurrect our world.

So her crystal ball does offer some hope.

But I tell her
I think I’d feel better
if I could do more to help  
during these feverish times.

The fortune teller then tells me:
you could resurrect yourself.

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© 2022, Michael R. Patton