Tag Archives: courage

My Tears Make Me a Warrior (Day 8)

Posted on by The Read-e-ologist

I don’t need nerves of steel
To be allowed to grow and heal.
My tears make me a warrior.

Call me sensitive, if you will,
Emotions don’t scare me — 
I’ve had my fill.
My tears make me a warrior.

It takes courage to face the things I’ve seen.
Bliss, pain, and everything in between.
My tears make me a warrior.

Depression, sadness, and despair?
Bitter and angry beyond repair?
My tears make me a warrior.

I may scream;
I just might cry.
I won’t pretend
Something’s in my eye.
I have no need
To hide or deny.
Ask about my feelings?
Let me demystify —
My tears make me a warrior.

I don’t need to act tough.
Reality is enough.
It takes guts to cry,
That’s why I’m so fly—
My tears make me a warrior.

NaPoWriMo.net Day 8

“Today I’d like to challenge you to write a poem that relies on repetition. It can be repetition of a phrase, or just a word. Need a couple of examples? Try “The Bells” by Edgar Allan Poe, or Joy Harjo’s “She Had Some Horses”. Poe’s poem creates a relentless, clanging effect through the repetition of the word “bells,” while Harjo’s repeated use of the phrase “she had some horses” and variations thereof gives her poem poem its incantatory effect, while also deepening its central philosophical conceit of what things are the same and what things are different.”

Advertisement

Forget Fearlessness (for Joanne)

Posted on by The Read-e-ologist

 

I remember that you wanted
to be
fearless,
And I remember
How you seemed
Disappointed in yourself
That you were not as
Fearless
As you expected yourself
To be.

My friend, you are
Not fearless—
Never have been,
Never will.

I know that seems harsh,
But what I am
Trying to say
Is that

You
Are
More
Than
Fearless.

You see,
Fearless lacks fear.

Fearless
does
not see
or acknowledge fear.

At all.

Fearless does not care.

Fearless has no worries.

Fearless is
not concerned.

Fearless doesn’t grapple.

Fearless does
Not
Consider the
consequences.

Fearless does
not require
perseverance or
stamina.

Fearless does
not spend time
to evaluate
or reflect.

Fearless does
Not
Weigh the
Costs
And benefits.

Fearless is for an instant.

Fearless is empty.

You are
Not fearless.

You are brave
And courageous.

Courage is complete.

Courage takes commitment,
Knowing the risks
But acting on
Behalf
Of
others.

Courage is compassionate,
Considering the impact of
The actions,
the inactions,
and
the reactions.

Courage sees fear,
looks it straight in the eye,
Nods with acknowledgement,

And then does
what
Is right.

Courage worries—

Courage loses sleep
And agonizes
While sifting through
What is obvious
In order
To
Find
The truth.

Courage evaluates the options,
Weighing the costs
And benefits.

Courage thinks and reflects,
Constantly soul-searching
And searching souls.

Courage makes a
careful
and brave
decisions.

Courage stands

When it would be easier
To fight
Or to flee.

Courage takes time,
Perseverance,
And stamina.

You are not fearless,
but
you are
Brave
and courageous.