THROUGH THE YEARS - A POEM

Through the Years,

A Collection of Poetry and Verse.

An inspirational thought,

In truth, an idea, for a book.

A pondering which allowed,

This rambling collection,

Of introspections and reflections,

Leak out of my brain in verse.

Some, forever written down,

While others remain in memory,

Shared, with, but, a select few. 

Until this day, a day of change,

A day, when the decision was made.

To reexplore, my catalog of works

Works of my poetry, both old and new,

Ordered in no particular way,

A list of titles, long enough,

For a book, or maybe two.

My, still growing list,

Of therapeutic consultations,

For which, I paid no fee.

Consultations between two nurses,

Neither of which has a psychiatry degree.

Yet, comprise the frequented practice,

Of ‘Myself and Me’.

Inspired by a life,

One that knows the elements well.

No, not those on the periodic table,

Though he knew them as well.

No, these elements have no formal table,

Excepting one, upon which sits a flickering candle

Set between the couch and chair,

A stage setting, Sigmund knew so well.

Elements that span the spectrum of human life,

Could well create a new periodic table,

Titled the Table of Emotions Felt In Life.

 While no chart like this,

At present that does in fact exist.

Who’s to say, one could eventually exist.

If it did, might it not have three parts?

Parts like Golden, Normal, and Living Hell.

Which emotions might be listed?

Within the parts that number three?

Some are easy, such as Love, and Good Health,

Which, for most, anchor the left,

While Hatred and Bigotry

Weigh down the far to the right.

It is those in the middle,

Which are often find hard to define. 

Look at Joy and Sorrow,

Normal emotions felt by all.

Yet, they tend to drift and change direction,

Like a snowflake upon a January wind.

One day on the left, the next on the right,

Then straight down the middle,

Where they catch one by surprise,

Taking away one's sight,

By releasing a river of tears,

Cascading out, with no discern,

Whether, the eyes be happy or sad.

There will be no written test this day,

For there is no printed chart.

The Table of Emotions Felt In Life,

An ever shifting, evolving affair.

Traveling on the expressway,

Between one’s brain and heart.

Living each day, the only exam,

One for which, it’s useless to cram,

Since it begins mutating

With the first breath, one takes.

Refreshed and new, each morning we wake.

There is a lesson, some say,

One, which might help on given day,

A lesson much like the test,

It morphs each day into a lesson new,  

A lesson specific, for a day that’s new.

The lessons, yes, they can be renewed.

To use once again, on a far, distant day.

The secret to being able to renew,

Is listening to the advice, that spews,

From the partners at ‘Myself and Me’…

Along, with an occasional assist, from ‘You’.

©October 31, 2016

Richard Nurse