All is gone, but unlikely forgotten
My place of being is where I am, and no longer with you
Do I have the right to be here
As the days unfold, and close …
I begin the next with a tear
And end it with a laugh
Success is the gift of laughter that I give myself just for making it through that day
And yet, procrastination has slowed me down
And made my self-reward less meaningful
… but worth the same I guess
Is love really lost … or was time and patience invested poorly
Looking back, I try to smile as my feet move forward to different beats
I can’t hear the drummers, or is my beat that quiet
Comparable to others, yet only in the fact that it is uniquely theirs—as mine
How far have I come or gone from the place I was to be
Who am I yesterday that I was dying to be tomorrow
Why can’t simple things be mine
Teddy bears are people too
Give me just a little while but don’t hold me to the clock
Allow me to run my own race and establish my own victory
You can help, but only if it’s to help me win on my own behalf
And woe to me, the reward I warrant
To beat defeat, I win
But what of my reward
Together with no one
I would sacrifice
For happiness with myself
would be lonely
but happy with you too
Walk by me
Step on me
Just make me smile when you pick me up
—From Rhythms: Poetry and Muse
Photo courtesy of James Robertson
