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author’s note:
Still shrinking.
A PARADOX OF SIZE
One day I told a wise tree:
“I sense I’m being driven from within
but I can’t see what
I am trying to accomplish.”
With a sigh, the tree then said:
“You can’t see because
your deepest desire is buried so deep.
“Look down deep and you will see:
“That you want to cross over a threshold
so you live in a mansion open to the sky.
There, you can rise to your full height
and squeeze rainwater from the clouds.
“But before you can cross
you must first shrink yourself down
because the door is small and low to the ground.”
“You mean, I must become less than I am?” I cried.
“No, you just need to realize
your actual size.
Like everyone else
you’re really quite little.”
“But if that’s so
how can I possibly reach the sky?”
I whined.
“Because of a paradox,”
the tree replied.
“As you deflate, you grow.
Just like everybody else.
“A slow painful process, yes
but without humility
height and weight can be dangerous.
You’ll be helping the whole world.”
As I left the tree then
I felt so foolish
but at least I’d shrunk a bit more.
How Can I Live In This World?: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2026, Michael R. Patton
author’s note:
At a time of many disasters, I’m working not to become a disaster myself.
REDISCOVERY
Though I don’t pray
sometimes I do
lower to my knees
then lower my head
and join right palm to left
because this pause
and position
somehow quiets thought
and allows me to deepen down
and find that place of peace
where I can hear
the wordless wisdom
of what seems to be
my own god within.
In the humility of lowering
I realize again
the promise of a potential
and so
once more feel hope.
Listening to Silence: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
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© 2024, Michael R. Patton
author’s note: The religious practice mentioned in the poem does--or at least, did--happen. A HAT STAND FOR BIRDS In Bora Bora kings pay priests to pray for them because they believe without those pleas for mercy they’ll become hat stands after death and be forced to serve all ghosts— even those who once lived as lowly peasants. But I believe good karma must be earned through sincere action: unless you learn to serve others in this life you'll be made to stand as a hat stand in the next. Not a punishment but a blessing— to be deprived of a chance at education would be damnation. I myself have learned much from all the work I’ve done holding hats and coats as well as umbrellas for countless others— both high and low. Under the weight and restraint of such servitude I broke open for a moment once and in my brief high flight I looked down to see a hat stand transform into a tree— hundreds, maybe thousands of rustling, restless birds flitted through its branches— I still hear their cries in my heart. I’m listening carefully to that cacophony— hoping I may one day perceive the glorious design of a symphony.
Searching for My Best Beliefs: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton
author’s note: Take me to the river And wash me down Won't you cleanse my soul Put my feet on the ground – “Take Me to the River”, by Al Green & Teenie Hodges I say: take yourself. THE SAME CREEK Whoever says you can't step in the same creek twice obviously doesn't know creeks. Over the years I’ve often returned to this creek and it has always welcomed me saying: step in and I will wash your feet clean no matter where you've been since you last knelt on my bank. Why shouldn’t I accept you?-- after all, no human can walk without getting their feet a little muddy or sometimes more than a little even when they tread carefully. But sometimes a pilgrim needs become mired in the muck. Otherwise, they'd never work to be free. Of course, there are those who choose to wallow but aren’t they innocent in their ignorance? So how can I refuse them when, like you, they lament their dim-sighted foolishness and crawl down to my waters? But credit yourself with being wise enough to realize what you win by rediscovering your humility and surrendering to this creek once again.
Poet, Heal Thyself: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton
Michael Patton
sky rope (subterranean rappel) 