Walking

I have these little pieces of paper

with little scribbles of truth on them

that I throw away because I keep

my trash and my treasure in the same pocket.

 

And it's not because I'm absent-minded;

it's because sometimes I really can't tell the difference,

 

I've found 5 dollars and bought

a dying man his last meal.

I've also found 20 bucks

and gone to the strip club.

 

I allow myself only as many miracles

as the count of my fingers, not including my thumbs,

so I try to thank god as little as possible.

 

This doesn't mean I don't love god,

it just means that I know I'm on my own.

As it stands I've found it easier to live

without having counted any miracles

because as the countdown begins you

discover you've made closed fists and it's harder

to shake hands or wave.

 

You find the more you rely on god

the less you believe in your neighbors,

or the people in the next town;

or in the next state;

or in the next country;

or on the next planet;

and you suddenly realize you've grown

suspicious of your own children

and you can't tell the difference

between a pocket knife and a terrorist weapon.

 

Please don't count your miracles.

 

Yourself is the only miracle you should count, your soul,

and don't ask if you're holding onto trash or treasure;

At least you have something to hold on to.

 

Remember:  You define what is in your hand;

not the other way around.

Reviews

[Rick Puetter]

Dear Chris,

I find this a remarkable poem. The perspective seems to me so Native American. I've been trying to understand that perspective lately, and I'm discovering its many virtues.

This is an eye-opening piece. "Please don't count your miracles." Indeed! "You define what is in your hand; /
not the other way around". So true. This is such a practical, down-to-earth understanding of life.

Congratulations on a very fine poem. High marks!

Best regards,

Rick

[Emily B]

While it is a remarkable poem, it isn't your best. Maybe it wanders too much. Poetry, pockets, walking, strip club, miracles, God. . . you have such power in your pen. I've seen mind-blowing miracles come out of that pocket. This is just a little nervous .

I find that people tend to rely on their "God" too much. I like the message here, where sometimes you just need to do things for yourself.

My favorite stanza is the first one because it's the most detailed, and well, I live for detail. "my trash and my treasure in the same pocket". Sometimes the good and the bad things get all tangled up in each other.