30 Days of Poetry: Day 9: ANXIETY

Day 9: Anxiety

This word brought to you by The Volcano Lover, by Susan Sontag

When the Shoulds Come to Town

The Shoulds have come to town

they hammer at your door

demand if the TO DO's been done,

and if you have, then more!

They'll sit above your bed

dripping doubt upond your head

fill your dreams

of awkward things

racing heart

pounding dread

When the Shoulds come to town

you will hide where you can

at the bottom of a chip bag

or a beer can

watch a movie!

read a book!

play a game!

just don't look!

But when the Shoulds are in town

they'll bring all they own

they'll set up tents, houses, cities

and then they'll begin to moan

“There's more to do! There's more to do!”

“You've simply done not enough!”

“Your overweight! To thin! Not smart!”

“You're work is really rough!”

But the Shoulds have a weakness too

bend in closer, I'll whisper it here

they love that you try and look away

so to combate them you must stare

Look them squarly in the face

meet their eyes, stand your ground

dig down as deep as you can

and let your truth sound

“You are an echo

shouted from dead mouths,

You are fear

from my manic culture,

You are blind,

to what is.

I accept you, as the part of me that wishes to grow

I accept you, as my vunerable voice venting

I am here, doing the things I can

learning, loving

leaving old habits behind.”