Poetry

Soggy

Edible

Still tasty

Not as appealing

Frugal

In other words

Delicious

By any other name

Missing.

Last seen.

Last weekend.

Offering a reward?

Or merely survive

In this bachelors haven?

Best to overcome

And go in a search.

Whether it’s to find the honey

Or worse

Take the coffee black.

Progress seems to have been made.

Work has accomplished the seemingly imposible.

Then the letter.

Arrival non conspicuous.

Devastating contents.

Stress ramps up once again.

How will things get better

if you can only react

and not be allowed

to be proactive?

Thinking ahead requires time to think.

Stress undercuts that.

Not my day.

It is full of shame and despair.

Guilt over mismanagement

and a willingness to procrastinate.

It is my day.

It is a day full of possibilities

and a source of fun.

A chance to be willing to embrace

what ever is given to me.

A day for contemplation.

A fresh start to look at new things

and see where things went wrong.

Just a day.

Normal like any other day.

Good or bad

It is just a day.

Cat prances by

The kingfisher cries

Huskies howl heavenward

Yellowjackets hum a chord

Plants just sit there

and soak up the sun

A cone of shame

dropped over you

as the phone call

to the doctor begins.

A creeping darkness

that seeps into your bones

as you listen

to other peoples accomplishments.

A hole that surrounds

your bed, your mind, your house

as you debate

if you should get up today.

A simple word

that people look at you

and say

“It’s all in your head!”

A hand that grips yours

and won’t let go.

Until another hand touches your shoulder

and they say

“I’m here for you.”

Believing in yourself

can be hard

when all that is heard

or seen

or felt

is the weight

of opinions that devalue you.

No one is able to find their way

unless they find the way

to believe

in themselves

and not believing the lies

we have been told our entire lives.

Especially if they come from yourself.

Seek out those who will build you up.

Learn that fear is not your enemy,

but your companion

who can help you know your strengths

by going forward despite it.

Directing the words to a moral.

A pedestal not needed.

Any medium will do.

Disgust for the others

Whose views are not shared.

Or worse

Realizing you are doing it yourself.

Be truthful.

Be kind.

Admit mistakes.

Give the benefit of the doubt.

Offer help.

And follow through with it.

Find your footing.

And lift others up with you.

Yes, you know you are doing good.

But is it for the recognition?

Or because you know it is a good thing to do.

Do not invalidate your works

By undermining your self worth.

Know who you are.

And do it anyway.

Things got done.

Phone calls made.

Appointments kept.

Friends visited.

The only thing better

would be a completely cleaned house.

For now, the fully changed cat litter

will have to be a major accomplishment.

Next week?

We will see what life gives us.