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author’s note:
Realism.
THE INVISIBLE BRIDGE
A wise one once told me
I’d eventually find a magical world
by walking down this path.
So I set off with great hope, vowing never to give up.
But after many years
filled with many thrilling trials
today, I encountered an obstacle
seemingly insurmountable:
I found myself at the edge of a steep cliff
with a deep dark chasm below.
I could see the path continued
on the far side of the gap—
the trail spiraled up a mountainside.
But how could I possibly cross?
I’d been told
not to deviate, but to stay on this track
and meet its challenges.
Had I been tricked?
Then a low voice unknown to me
echoed up from the depths of the canyon:
“The higher the cost, the greater the gift,”
the voice murmured.
“Try and you will find
a foot bridge before you—
its invisible ropes
and invisible boards
will support your weight.
To reach your magical place
you must cross this magical bridge.”
Though I demanded more information
my words fell into
a silent void.
The epitaphs of those who test reality
often tell us:
“He died a foolish death.”
But after walking this path for so long
I preferred to die like a fool
rather than go back, feeling defeated.
So I stuck out my foot
and searched around with my toes
until I felt something solid—
something like a board—
then I extended my hand
until I touched an unseen rope.
I’m not sure how much time has passed
since I took that first step.
I think now I must be at least halfway across.
But maybe not.
Unfortunately, curdles of fog came in
and hid everything—including the mountain.
Cloud has crept all the way up to my armpits—
maybe it’ll swallow me whole.
How long must this test go on!
I can’t stop my sensible knees from shaking—
they say to me:
Any moment you could slip.
Any moment you could trip.
Any moment you could fall and be lost forever.
But though I can’t make peace with my knees
I can still make peace in my head.
I’ve now decided
to love my decision—
I will, even if I fall—
all the way down
I will praise myself
for being willing to risk everything
on a magical trek of discovery.
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: Based on an actual event. THE WALKING METAPHOR Sometimes a metaphor stuns me. Like the one I saw this morning: a woman walking backwards on the sidewalk by the park. Soon the trees hid her from view and I recovered enough to decipher my response: I can see the past-- I can see I’m on a path but I can’t see for certain where I’m stepping. With that realization I remembered a dream from the night before: I saw the tracks I’d made as well as the tracks I would make shining on a dirt track. That dream told me: you must learn to trust your deep luminous eye. That woman in the park steps with confidence --why?-- because she trusts her deep luminous eye. I can see her now and feel inspired. However when someone walks backwards you naturally worry they’ll fall. I suppose I could pray for her safe passage but wouldn’t that show a lack of faith in her inner strength-- in her spirit? But I can still pray-- I will pray a way that honors her: every day in my heart I will thank her for being a walking metaphor for all to witness.
Common Courage: poetry book
myth steps blog
dream steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton
author’s note: I learned the way I often learn: the hard way. ONLY A FOOL ARGUES WITH STONE Long ago a clever storyteller saw the features of a human face on the gray stone of the bluff overlooking the bend in the river then invented the tale of the wise woman spirit who sees all who pass as her children and warns them with an echo: steer away from the rocky shore. A legend we love because both young and old want to feel protected by Mother. Many of those who canoe down the river today will slow their paddles at the bluff and ask that stone sage for guidance. And the ones who truly listen may discern an answer buried within the distorted amplification booming back across the water. I’ve known people who refused to accept what they needed to do until they heard the woman of stone say: you know the truth. But you need not travel to our river when burdened with a question. I say: wise stone spirits can be found all over this planet and if we approach with reverence they will tell us what we need to know-- even if they don’t echo we can hear their thoughts if we quiet our hearts. I myself have sometimes received an answer of truth from a cliffside or a boulder or even a rock in the sand. And though I often want to reject that wisdom I don’t because I’ve learned: only a fool argues with stone.
Listening to Silence: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton
author’s note: To all the Noahs out there. AN ARK BUILDER OVERCOMES REASONABLE DOUBT WITH REASON As a child when I heard the story of Noah I firmly decided: you must obey higher guidance even if people doubt you. Ah, but my resolution slipped when, years later the voice of wisdom spoke to me as I tried to quiet my heart during a time of confusion. Like the command Noah heard the message I received seemed to go against common sense. Nonetheless, I might have believed-- if the voice had boomed down from the clouds. But no the answer rose softly from a place deep within me and so governed by doubt I went against the guidance and soon realized I should’ve heeded that advice. And oh-- the advice didn’t stop-- because in curiosity, I strained to hear the next message and the next and the next. Though in short time, I learned I should obey what I heard I still worried about rejecting my reasonable doubt-- after all I didn’t want to lose my reason-- reason is good! Fortunately, I eventually I developed a strategy: when I begin to fret about some major building instruction I counter my doubt with this reasonable argument: maybe I am making a grand mistake but if I act with courage and love that mistake will be wonderfully grand.
Common Courage: poetry book
dream steps blog
myth steps blog
you tube channel
© 2023, Michael R. Patton
Michael Patton
sky rope (subterranean rappel) 