Before Ophelia

July 23

Before Ophelia

Young women drown themselves before Shakespeare immortalized, memorialized Ophelia.  But having a poster child changes us.  Cautionary tale or rallying cry, Ophelia is a hand to hold on dark cold days when the light is hard to find and everything seems bent toward destruction.  Not that I think she solved anything with her despondent act just that she stands in the familiar frame I find myself in from time to time.  When I imagine I’ve invented the wheel it makes it harder to step down and walk.  Ophelia’s fate makes it easier to get off depression’s bus and find my way back home.

Press your excuses for truth

*

TOOTH FAIRY

I slide my hand under the pillow

And am disappointed not to find a quarter.

I feel I deserve one though I didn’t leave a tooth.

I did leave my bite,

I’ve toned down my bark a bit too.

It has not been easy.

I’ve spent much of my life snapping and growling

At the world around me.

I have shortened the leash on these reactive behaviors

Many I have put to bed all together.

Improved conduct is prize enough

But I surely would enjoy a winged visitor

If only just for fun.

You are reading selections from More Sober on the Way to Sane and Lines From My Life by Sherrie Theriault

http://www.amazon.com/More-Sober-The-Way-Sane/dp/144141231X/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1374072329&sr=8-3&keywords=sober+on+the+way+to+sane

http://www.amazon.com/Lines-My-Life-Sherrie-Theriault/dp/1448652820/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1374072576&sr=1-1&keywords=Lines+from+my+life%2C+Sherrie+theriault

Tooth Fairy

August 2

TOOTH FAIRY

I slide my hand under the pillow and am disappointed not to find a quarter.  I feel I deserve one though I didn’t leave a tooth; I did leave my bite.  I’ve toned down my bark a bit too.  It has not been easy; I have spent much of my life snapping and growling at the world around me.  I have shortened the leash on these reactive behaviors, many I have put to bed all together.  Improved conduct is prize enough but I surely would enjoy a winged visitor if only just for fun.

Applaud your performance.

*

In Plain Sight

When there is a problem, I hide.

As the good places diminish

I end up standing behind a pole.

The trouble with this is

that something always sticks out.

I try weight loss, I suck in my tummy,

I try to blend with the scenery.

Once spotted I act nonchalant;

“I’m just hanging around with my skinny friend;

nothing is the matter,” attempting to cover

with a casual aside what is apparent to everyone but me.

I would be better off parading naked

than endeavoring this piteous disguise.

I can’t fool the crowd and trying to makes a fool of me.

What I have forgotten is that clarity and diligence

removes the target from my back

and makes me invisible to almost everyone.

When I solve my problem I solve this problem too.