You are currently browsing the tag archive for the ‘donkey’ tag.
author’s note:
Not to be confused with the song of the same name.
The weight in the poem is a different type of burden than the one described in the song. Heavier.
THE WEIGHT
In the dream
I carried the world on my shoulders
and felt unfairly burdened
until I looked around the crowd
and saw how everyone else also struggled
to remain upright.
The weight just might break the human race.
Some say
the weight comes from the knowledge
death always watches
and may suddenly become impatient.
Some say the same in another way—
they say
the weight comes from
our distrust of the world—
the instinct that keeps us alive.
Yes—
I feel myself wrapped inside
that state of mind
except in those moments
when the stronger me breaks free.
In the openness of release
I may again experience
the unknown enormity
of a sky and planet so grand.
At such times
life seems much too much—
even in peace the weight stays with me.
So
since I can’t get rid of the weight
I’ve decided to embrace the burden—
I tell myself:
if you didn’t feel the weight
you wouldn’t struggle so hard to be strong.
Get the Message: a short guide for understanding dreams
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton
author’s note:
Today, in the U.S., we honor our military veterans.
I say: we’re all veterans, of one type or another.
EMPATHY FOR THREE
One night while standing in line
I heard a man behind me say
with a sneer:
he’s fallen again
and felt a surge of empathy
for someone I did not know
but I knew his pain—
you see, I’ve fallen too
a few times
or maybe more
than a few
and like that guy
been criticized
while still down
if not by someone else
then by myself—
yeah, I can be quite critical of me.
So I think I know something
about that critical man in line—
I believe his sneer belies
anger at some part of himself
he deems weak.
The pain behind his anger
is pain I know, so now
I also feel empathy for him.
Maybe my empathy
is merely self-pity
projected outwards.
But if so, that’s okay
because
when I see myself
in those two mirrors
I want to help them both
and when I want to help them both
I want to help all three of us
and when I want help the three of us
I want to help the whole damn world.
© 2018, Michael R. Patton
40 New Fables: ebook
Michael Patton
sky rope (subterranean rappel) 