FABLE OF THE MAN WHO KEEPS FINDING HIS PEACE

Years ago
disturbed by all the turbulence
I decided I should do my part 
to calm our hurricane.

But my little agitated wings
only stirred the storm more.

Finally I realized
I could not help unless
I found the peace 
the masters said resides within.

So I sat down in a shelter
and closed my eyes and ears 
to the storm outside

only to find a storm inside.

Had the wise ones lied to us?
Where was that damn place of peace!
In desperation, I continued

and by working down through
the blow of my noise
I finally discovered
the calm center promised.

So when I resurfaced
I felt especially pleased—
especially proud
and wanted to tell all
about what I’d found.

But what I’d found
was soon lost
when the disturbance
began to disturb me again.

The joy of progress
followed by the pain of regression.
Despairing, I delved once again.

Thus began a pattern
repeated many times since then:
going within
then going back out again.

Back and forth.  Down and up.
The exercise often seems hopeless.
But I persist, because
to survive the weather outside
I need the relief
of my blessed moments of peace.

Fable of the Man Who Keeps Finding His Peace

Recorded on September 18, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Heather Christle: "Mistake"

Recorded on October 23, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Howard Altmann: "After Hours"

Recorded on October 25, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Deborah Landau: from "Soft Targets"

Recorded on December 15, 2017, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Megan Levad: "Foundling"

Recorded on April 13, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

James Richardson: "Essay on the One Hand and on the Other"

Recorded on July 19, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Erika Meitner: "A Brief Ontological Investigation"

Recorded on July 26, 2018, for Poem-a-Day, a series produced by the Academy of American Poets. www.poets.org

Francisco Marquez's Album

Janice N. Harrington: "Burn"

Wasting Time : written and read by @megwaf for #WhisperingNeds 151 (Wasting Time)

Wasting Time : by @megwaf for #WhisperingNeds 151

she shuffles her feet : written and read by @megwaf for #WhisperingNeds 151

she shuffles her feet : by @megwaf

Bury me where... written by Chris : read by @megwaf  for #ReadMeSpeakMe No.99

Bury me where... written by Chris : read by @megwaf

I claim to be a novelist, poet, essayist, cartoonist, graphic artist, peace monger--and I'm trying to be a world citizen. As for my backstory...let's just say I've lived and worked all over the United States.  I'm self-taught, for the most part, which is like stumbling around blindfolded while looking for the right door.  It's an on-going process. Lacking any true musical ability, I try to make music with language, while also making meaning.  

Fable of the Man Who Keeps Finding His Peace

mythsteps

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