poem

The boy

~ ~M ~ 14 Comments

The boy lived
With the hopes of wine
Something soothing
Something sublime

The boy hoped
For the love of her
Something different
Something sure

The boy loved
All the ease she brought
Something beautiful
Something sought

The boy eased
Into the life she rendered
Something exquisite
Something surrendered

The boy lived
Without the doubt he’d held
Something changed
Something expelled

The boy doubted
All the world would see
Something splendid
Something free

The boy whirled
With the joy he’d acquired
Something unexpected
Something required

© 2023 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/nature-people-autumn-boy-couple-2941085/

Alone

~ ~M ~ 35 Comments

Alone is a place
I know so well
It’s the place I dream
The place I dwell

It gets dreary in here
And I get scared of the dark
But my flame isn’t extinguished
You should see my spark

People pass by
But they cannot see
All the color of life
Right inside of me

Come take a look
You’ll see that it’s true
I have a heart
Just like you

© 2023 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: @Lanazi00

I remain…

~ ~M ~ 42 Comments

I remain in slumbered thought
And yet my mind aches to go
To be what I should be
To know what I should know

And yet here I sit as always
My body fighting with my mind
The balance between them both
So off-kilter so unkind

The brain at war with the bones
The bones set in stubborn recluse
I fear not even an earthquake
Could shake my body loose

Stuck in that realm of isolation
Peering down on a grand parade
Wishing to be part of everything
Will no one come to my aid?

I’ve become like a stone statue
Watching the crowds pass by
Already in my coffin
Stuck in my mind’s eye

The world hums around me
I’m a lone spectator to the buzz
I remain in sequestered solitude
Free from what the world does

© 2023 Michelle Cook

Photo credit: https://pixabay.com/photos/sunset-woman-field-terrace-sun-5842173/

Quit?

~ ~M ~ 37 Comments

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 🙂

The worrywart

~ ~M ~ 38 Comments

Worried about the future
Worried about the past
The worrywart’s worries
Make him such an outcast

He dwells incessantly
On things that bring demise
Every potential threat becomes
Something to analyze

The rest of the world just goes on
Rolling their logical eyes
As the worrywart frets
Becoming panicky and paralyzed

It’s a sight the regulars can’t handle
A disgrace to the sensible ones
But the worrywart still worries
Pleading for help from anyone

And then the worries start to spread
Like a disease that infects the mind
Although the worrier means no harm
The repercussions are still unkind

Then more worrywarts abound
Born of dread and social fear
And life becomes a disastrous mess
As the worries fill every ear

From coast to coast and sea to sea
The endless cycle spreads
And now we’re all just worriers
Wishing we were dead

© 2023 Michelle Cook

*The drawing is my own attempt at creating a worried warthog.  I wanted to do something silly for this one and make it as unrealistic and absurd as possible.  So if you haven’t laughed yet, I guess I’ve failed miserably.  But if you’re at least smiling and shaking your head in disbelief, then I guess I’m doing alright.  😉 ~M