Quit?

I can’t be happy
I can’t be sad
Every mood
Feels chaotic and bad

I can’t change
I can’t stay the same
This dilemma I have
Is really quite lame

I can’t go away
I can’t stay
I just can’t have anything
My own way

I can’t know
I can’t forget
But I CAN
just quit!

© 2023 Michelle Cook


*This drawing is my attempt at illustrating just how awful I felt a week ago when I started back to school. I had registered for too many classes and felt completely overwhelmed. After dropping a couple of my classes, I feel like I’m back on track with my goals. And I’m feeling excited again and eager for the challenge ahead.  ~M 🙂

Mad morning mayhem

The morning rush
Leaves me dizzy
Cars here n there
Everyone is busy

I just can’t focus
My nerves are shot
I loosen my tie
But still I’m hot

Not even my coffee
Is helping today
My chest is tight
The sky is gray

The air looks thick
So I hold my breath
Wonder if it’ll help
To delay my death

The day drags on
I try to stay awake
But my coffee is cold
No time for a break

I sit up straight
As the boss walks by
And when he’s passed
I cough out a sigh

The clock is ticking
Louder by the minute
There’s one more hour
But I’ve reached my limit

Finally it’s time
Adrenaline fills me up
But now there’s traffic
My shoulders slump

My grip tightens
Patience worn thin
Still in disbelief
Over the jam I’m in

I spy an opening
The sea finally parts
I almost jump for joy
As the cars begin to start

The way at last clear
I feel like I could cry
But I choke back the tears
Though I don’t know why

I at last take my place
In the race against time
Flying through intersections
Like I’m fleeing a crime

There’s one final hurdle
I’ll see home at last
Grateful to leave mayhem
In rear views past

© 2021 Michelle Cook


Photo credit:  https://pixabay.com/photos/traffic-jam-vehicles-highway-auto-3460563/

Poetry prompt:  I’ve sort of been in a slump lately when it comes to writing and decided to ask my hubby to start giving me daily prompts.  This is the first one… Mad morning mayhem.

Something to cling to…

Amid the chaos
of our cluttered world,
sometimes we have only
but a past moment,
something distinctly different
from all the other colorless days.
And that one solitary moment,
the one we treasure
with fondness and love
gives us something to cling to
when we can no longer see
a single thread of light.
Those rare moments exist
to reassure us during the times
when the dark dares
to snuff out our light.
That one blessed memory
is often what unexpectedly
sees us through.

© 2021 Michelle Cook


Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/black-and-white-monochrome-people-2590418/