Yesterday, I was reading an article about poetry I found interesting, it describes a new book called “Poetry Pharmacy”.  I love the title.  The article I was reading can be found on the BBC site, and is entitled “The Words that can make us calmer“: http://www.bbc.com/culture/story/20170927-the-words-that-can-make-us-calmer

William Sieghart, the author of Poetry Pharmacy, creates and uses poetry as a self-help book for life.

This makes so much sense to me; to use the observation and expression of someone else to help us understand, life, and life situations and emotions.  Giving words to life gives us a deeper understanding and a means to internalize the what’s-going-on-with-me thoughts.   In the article, there is the recommendation that to read poetry and to feel it’s message it needs to be read out-loud, at least out-loud in our heads.  Otherwise the information has no emotion and the meaning is lost as in reading a menu or directions.  The directions or list is understood at that time, but not retained in the part of brain that captures emotion and feeling.  I found that reading the article helped me understand in part why I write poetry and why it means something more than just rhymes on a page.

We all have days when the demands of the world require us to carry a load further, and we have had those days where the world is not cooperating and we are weary of the repetitive demands of the burden we carry.  I had one of those days not long ago and these words that follow came to me.  Maybe this gives a little solace to those that have to get up and keep trudging on when you’d rather not, my view of The Burden…

 

The Burden

 

Today will be a rainy day

I feel it in my bones

And in my bed, I’d rather stay

 

But I rise, creak and crack

The world expects it of me

So, put this burden on my back

 

Onto the day and into the rain

It is for me to carry on

No use or purpose to complain

 

The burden will never know

It just sits there and weighs

Heavy as it bends me low

 

I’ll rest well when I’m dead

And the burden will fall gratefully

To another lucky someone instead