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author’s note: Poet, Heal Thyself: poetry book
Physician, heal thyself.
— Luke 4:23
FABLE OF THE WOMAN WHO SAVED A WOUNDED BIRD
Years ago, a young girl
tried and failed
to save a dying bird chick.
A sincere effort.
But what she didn’t know was:
she saw herself in that bird.
Later
she decided to help save human beings
by becoming a nurse.
A sincere aspiration.
But what she didn’t know was:
in so many faces
she saw that dying bird chick.
Later
after witnessing so much death
she decided to help save human beings
by ascending to the pulpit.
A sincere aspiration.
But what she didn’t know was:
she now hoped to save
that dying bird chick
by saving its soul.
Over the years, she received much praise
for her work as a preacher and nurse.
Nonetheless
she still felt a vague malaise.
Finally, in desperation
she asked her mirror
what the problem was
and then
in the reflection looking back
she saw that dying bird chick.
From that point on
she became her own patient.
From that point on
she became her own flock.
Later, she returned
to the twin tasks of tending
to the bodies and spirits
of wounded human beings.
But now her aspirational efforts
produce even better results
and though she doesn’t say
she knows the reason why:
People who want to open
but don’t trust
may open
when they experience
a server who lives in peace—
someone who has saved
her own bird chick.
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© 2024, Michael R. Patton
author’s note: ‘Cause you can never tell What goes on down below! This pool might be bigger Than you or I know! -- Dr. Seuss INTO THE LOOKING GLASS POOL They said: that’s you. Me? That tater head was me? I stared hard—then harder but that face still seemed so strange. Finally, I lost patience and crawled away from the glass— I would explore the outer world instead. However the faces I saw now seemed just as peculiar as that one in the mirror. And my efforts to understand them soon ended with the admonition: don’t stare at people. So I returned to my own face. Some will surely say You’re like that fellow in the story-- Narcissus. No— he only gazes at the surface whereas I try to see beneath and often I don’t love what I discover. However I refuse to look away because an explorer must be brave. But sometimes I need encouragement so I tell myself: don’t let the pain you find blind you to the complex wonder which is the human being and whenever you encounter a ferocious sea serpent in the shadowy depths... try to see his good side.
The Truth of the Dream: poetry book
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© 2023, Michael R. Patton
author's note: This poem has become my Fourth of July tradition. Happy birthday, America!--I love your mad beauty, despite the flaws. DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE I'll be damn if I'll be terrorized by anyone including the beast in my mirror. If I can face that monster why should I cower before those who lack the courage to look into their own reflections? When they bombard me my legs may tremble but I won't sit— no, I'll pirouette in a defiant dance of joy! And if they curse me with cutting words I’ll answer with a song designed to soothe the wounds which are theirs and mine. But my empathy still has limits: I must heal myself more before I have heart enough to love them. So though I declare with sincerity I can not yet say I’m completely free.
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© 2022, Michael R. Patton
author’s note: Narcissus looked into a mirror… But he never really saw himself. THE FABLE OF THE GOOD COUPLE He saw the light in her and she saw the light in him and so they fell in love then suddenly became monsters to one another. Why? Why did they snarl and snap when alone together? The spirits standing behind them knew-- they knew how that guy always prided himself on his goodness. How he loved hearing his goodness praised! They knew that gal prided herself on her goodness too. How she loved hearing her light praised! They knew she now worried he might outshine her just as he worried she might outshine him. He fell into some dreadful thoughts-- saying to himself: Just look at her-- she thinks she’s so good. If people could only see how she growls at me! And alas she raged within with the same harsh thoughts about him! Maybe you’ll be surprised to hear the spirits had actually put those two together. You see, they know the best among us can always be better and sometimes need catalysts to help them improve. They know a mirror can serve this purpose-- someone who reflects your faults. But even the best often don’t not want to see their faults reflected in a mirror and may protect themselves from clarity by stirring up all sorts of commotion. Fortunately exhaustion has a way of helping us accept the truth: finally they lacked the energy to argue more and slumped to floor and in that moment of stillness he looked at her and she looked at him and both suddenly realized how alike they were. At this point I can reward your patience with a happy ending-- but perhaps not the happy ending you expected. After achieving that insight the couple soon understood their life together had reached its conclusion: he no longer needed her and she no longer needed him. To this day, she praises him for how he helped her become a better person and in the same glowing way he lauds her. Nonetheless, I sometimes detect of hint of competition when they check each other from a distance. Ah, but maybe that’s for the best: he needs a bit of motivation when he feels fatigued in his good fight just as she does when she tires in hers. However neither ever forgets what they saw on the brighter side of that mirror-- he saw as she saw they share the same light.
33 1/3 New Fables & Myth
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© 2022, Michael R. Patton
Michael Patton
sky rope (subterranean rappel) 